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news
Devon driver who allegedly knocked cyclist off the roadCyclists say enraged Devon councillor ran them off the road
Three Devon cyclists say they were run off the road by a Devon councillor who then swore at them and told them that they deserved it. The Plymouth Herald reports that counter allegations have been made by the driver who claims that he was assaulted by a cyclist.
Jason Acreman, Rob Peirce, and Paul Reynolds say that a Land Rover driven by Bridford parish councillor, James Atkinson, tried to overtake them on the wrong side of the road round a blind corner, only to hit Acreman after swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle.
Acreman said the three men were coming to the end of a training ride when they heard beeping from a car behind and then screeching and skidding. "I was riding by the hedge and had nowhere to go and was left upside-down and hanging out of a tree. I was quite lucky really but do have a badly bruised hip, muscle damage, pain in my back and my shoulder is grazed.”
When confronted immediately afterwards, Atkinson allegedly told the cyclists to 'fuck off' and said that they 'deserved it'. He was also caught on camera aiming a middle finger gesture towards them.
A fourth cyclist, who wasn’t with the trio, cycled into town to get phone signal to call the police, but when they arrived Atkinson had already left. An official complaint has been made.
Peirce described Atkinson as being incredibly aggressive throughout and claimed he showed no remorse or concern.
"After a while he said we deserved it because we were riding four abreast, but we weren't. Luckily there was an oncoming car, who was a witness.
"He was coming down the long straight which we were at the end of, so he would have seen us on the horizon, but he didn't slow down. Instead he started beeping his horn, and committed to taking the corner regardless of us.
"He went onto the wrong side of the road, but there was an oncoming car so he veered into us, and knocked my friend Jason off his bike. Jason quickly gathered himself and we approached Atkinson, and tried to take the key out of the ignition to stop him driving off.”
When Atkinson stopped them from getting the key, the cyclists stood in front of the car to try and prevent him from leaving.
"We tried to explain to him that he could kill someone driving that way, but he kept sticking his finger up at us and saying 'fuck you'.”
"I've never seen anything like it. It was all about him and his story, about how it wasn't his fault. Eventually he drove off. He said that he was going straight to the police station, but we don't think he actually did.”
A police spokesman said:
"At about 12.30pm on Sunday there was a collision between a Land Rover and some cyclists between Christow and Canonteign turning. Two cyclists have come off their bikes.
"One male has a head injury while the other man has cuts and bruises. Counter allegations have been made by the driver who is alleging that he was assaulted by a cyclist, and we are making inquiries as to what happened."
Councillor Atkinson declined to comment, saying: "I am not able to do so until I have finished talking to the police regarding their investigations."
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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34 comments
"Wanker in a Land Rover"
Just about tops the cretinous comments that this website comes up with. And just how does the vehicle have anything to do with that? As I also have one the same colour I suppose I am tarred with the same brush. I suppose I had better avoid my self on the roads. Absolute example of pure bias and prejudice. So many were ranting on about prejudice on the post about MTN on this page yet the same comments appear in the same manner here.
Wind your neck in please and I would like an apology for being called such a thing.
Another of life's tossers. I bet he couldn't even say what 4x4 is.
Yet another TWAT !
I suspect he is related to this bloke https://vid.me/39fK
Bring back hanging.
Sigh. We've obviously only heard one side of the story, but if the cyclists' allegations are true, I really hope the police throw the book at him. But as others have said, I won't hold my breath. Will probably be another slap on the wrist - at most.
To provide a little bit of Friday positivity to counter yet another story about drivers (allegedly) acting like asshats, I just came back from 60 miles through the Surrey Hills and encountered nothing but courteous, considerate and careful drivers. No tailgating, no dangerously close passes and even a few kindly folk letting me go at junctions even though they had right of way. Must be the sun.
I had that today (at separate points in just 20 km) with a tipper truck driver, black cab, artic, TfL bus, and multiple private cars... It's either the sun, or people in the Wimbledon area are simply much nicer than elsewhere.
I almost fell over when the tipper driver did it, out of surprise!
Window down, middle finger up: now there's a picture of an assault victim
Your misreading the situation, the sun was in his eyes, he was shading them so he could see better.
All he needs to say is that he can't be responsible for not anticipating an oncoming vehicle or for a cyclist falling off his bike and he'll be let off scot-free without even any sanction for overtaking on a blind bend....
See http://road.cc/content/news/95681-pharmaceutical-consultant-who-killed-c... for precedent on this.
The usual "oh I was assaulted" pish. Yeah, what whilst you were in your motor - was one of the cyclists Superman or the Flash and they just decided to quickly dismount, fly into your cab faster than a speeding bullet, punch you and then fly back on to their bike all in the blink of an eye?
Oh no, of course it was afterwards after your aggressive idiocy nearly killed the cyclists after nearly taking out the oncoming driver and you realised you fucked up, badly, and need to try and apportion or share the blame. No chance, you should be in the jail - not making spurious, after-the-event pack of lies counter-allegations which hopefully the Police, if they can be bothered, see right through.
Planting a cyclist into a tree with a 3-ton vehicle should be a mandatory prison sentence. No doubt his council links will see him retain his licence, a £60 fine and this horrible man will not give two fucks or indulge in even a shred of introspection.
One "funny handshake" with his brother the local Magistrate at the lodge beforehand and he'll get off scot-free...
I'm sure emails to the Chairman of Bridford Parish Council inquiring as to whether the behaviour of their councillor is in keeping with their code of conduct can only assist in this matter.
Email list -
http://www.bridfordvillage.co.uk/parish-council/about-the-parish-council/
Code of Conduct -
http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=35569&p=0
One suspects that the Monitoring Officer (not the PC Chairman) would have a think about R v Livingstone and ask himself if the councillor was acting as a councillor when he behaved so badly. My guess is not, and given that so many parish councillors are not even elected, he will
carry on regardless....
Councillors are meant to be upstanding members of the community. Although I agree, evidence to the contrary is rarely far away
Story about an idiot, fair enough, but not really a story about an official being an idiot, is it? I mean, parish councillor, does that count? The one about the popular-with-cyclists cafe owner was more on the button, for me.
His claim of assault is no doubt the attempt to snatch his keys, which as an attempt to perform a citizens arrest isn't disproportionate.
I hope the driver of the other car has given a statement. If so then hopefully they can nail him for dangerous driving and GBH. That's if the police an be arsed to do anything at all.
The police will do nothing on this, its his word against there's.
Shame really.
'Fortunately', because he is on a local parish council, his name, address, phone, email etc. are all over the internet!!
"The police will do nothing on this, its his word against there's.
Shame really"
apart from the fact they have a witness driving in the other direction, and some images (presumably from a video)
Nor will they do anything about this attempted theft or threat of stabbing because "they were on the gangs turf"
There are multiple witnesses, some with injuries against another who has confirmed he was there and an incident took place. Plenty of evidence to be sorted out and no reason why cops should shirk their duty.
All it will take is a few funny handshakes and this will all be brushed under the carpet and quietly forgetten
Another aggressive 4WD driver.
Can no one else see the pattern?
http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/13335602.Snapped__tackl...
http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/13218715.Road_rage_driv...
http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/11265149.Car_smashes_th...
I have a 4x4.
What's your point?
I am a triathlete, time-trialist and cycle to work each and every day. I also have a 4x4.
Your tarbrush seems a little wide.
I'm a club cyclist, commute on my bike regularly and own a (dark-coloured) 4x4 with personal number plate - using it to get me and 2 club mates to the start of an audax this morning. Not an aggressive driver and always give plenty of room for fellow cyclists!
I told Road CC about this last Sunday as it involves some of my cycling chums! The bloke in the car is a complete tool. To give you an idea he is already barred from his local for fighting!!
Dark coloured Land Rover. Is there a theme emerging here?
expensive personal numberplate as well... wonder if there's any connection?
More to the point... yet another narrow, nowhere safe to bail out, high hedges and tree-lined National Speed Limit road that some idiots believe they have a deity given right of ownership of a large vehicle to barrel down at 60+ and not have to consider what might be round the corner or directly in front of them...
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