Inquest finds accidental death after policeman crashes on Greenhow Hill

An inquest into the death of a cyclist on Yorkshire’s Greenhow Hill has found that the crash that cost Detective Inspector Peter Parchment his life was an accident.

On April 24, Det Insp Parchment of Nottinghamshire police  was taking part in a three-day coast to coast ride to raise money for charity when he crashed on the steep, winding two mile descent into Pateley Bridge.

The inquest heard that he was not speeding when he crashed, but had been riding too fast for the road and his abilities, ,according to the Nottingham Post.

His bike wheel hit the edge of the road and he and his bike were thrown through the air and hit a tree.

The Highways Agency said nothing can be done to improve safety on the steep descent, though there are warning signs alerting road users to the hill’s winding and steep nature.

Greenhow Hill is on the popular Way of the Roses coast to coast route that crosses the country from Morecambe to Bridlington. Det Insp Parchment is the first cyclist to die on the hill, but there have been three crashes in the last couple of years in which cyclists have been injured.

Mr Parchment was riding with friend and colleague Detective Constable Michael Eaton when the crash occurred. When they reached the top of the hill, Det Insp Parchment took the lead.

Det Con Eaton said: “We were going down the hill. We may have been pedalling a bit but we were certainly not pedalling fast and accelerating.

“It was more a case of gravity taking us. It all happened in a split second.

“My view was Pete’s speed was slightly too fast for the bend.

“I saw his front wheel hit the edge of the road. I saw the wheel actually wiggle as he lost control.

“It seemed to me both Pete and the bike lost control and virtually flew through the air and hit the tree.”

Despite his colleagues attempting CPR, Mr Parchment died at the scene of multiple injuries.

He was estimated to have been travelling at 20-25mph at the time of the crash.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Geoff Fell said: “It seems to me this was an error of judgement on Mr Parchment’s part.”

The crash was probably caused by a combination of speed and the line he took around the bend, the coroner said.

He did not think signs for cyclists would do any good but he would ask the Highways Agency to monitor accidents involving cyclists.