'Die-in' vigil planned to remember Boris Bike cyclist killed by Crossrail tipper truck in London

A vigil is to be held in remembrance of a cyclist killed by a tipper truck in central London this week.

Claire Hitier-Abadie, who was 36, was killed by a vehicle involved in Crossrail works near Victoria Station while riding a Boris Bike on Thursday morning, making her the second cyclist to be killed while using one of the ubiquitous rental bikes.

The French-born woman moved to London last year from Paris, with her husband and two children.

A “die-in” protest on March 2 is planned near Victoria, There have been four fatal HGV collisions this year so far.

Donnachadh McCarthy from the Stop Killing Cyclists campaign told the Evening Standard: “We’re now arranging our fourth vigil since the start of the year. We want this to be a huge one because we are fed up.”

The collision in Bressenden Place was just a few metres from the spot where Katharine Giles, 35, was killed by a left-turning HGV in April 2013.

It’s the second fatal Boris Bike collision in London. In July 2013 Philippine De Gerin-Ricard, 20, who was also French, died in Whitechapel.

Reports indicate that the lorry was fitted with cameras which may allow a full investigation into the collision.

A Twitter user, @donna_de said last night: “Absolutely devastated. My colleague’s wife was killed while cycle commuting this morning, crushed by a lorry. The boss came over to tell us as we all work on an open floor. It’s awful at work. Who does her husband hug and cry with?

“[Before being told] he was laughing and joking at the office. It took two hours to be notified. Two young children robbed of a mother, a husband losing his love, all due to a left turning lorry.”

Gareth Osborn, business unit director at Segro, where Mrs Hitier-Abadie recently worked, said: “She worked for us for four months covering maternity leave. She was a very popular exemplary employee and are thoughts are with her family.”