Cyclist hit by refuse truck killed yards from primary

AN investigation has been launched after a 32-year-old cyclist was killed after being hit by a council bin lorry just yards from a school.

The man died at the scene of the accident, which happened at the junction of Broughton Road and East Claremont Street at around 7.50am yesterday.

Police accident investigators closed both streets and yesterday morning were examining the remains of the mountain bike, which still lay in the road alongside the cyclist's rucksack.

The city council rubbish skip truck was parked several metres away and police said its driver was helping with their inquiries.

The incident happened just outside Broughton Primary School and pupils on their way to school had to be ushered past the remains of the bike and the police cordon.

Police Inspector Steven Boyle said: "We are currently working to establish exactly what happened, so would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time to come forward."

David Lyon, head of environment at the city council, said: "We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the man's family at this very sad time.

"The council is working closely with the police and an immediate, thorough investigation is currently being carried out into this tragic incident."

People who live and work near the site of the collision said heavy traffic, including lorries from the council's nearby Powderhall Refuse Depot, were being diverted through the junction and up East Claremont Street because of gas roadworks currently closing Broughton Road.

One man who lives in East Claremont Street, and did not want to named, said the junction itself had also been revamped recently. He said: "That area's just been done up. It's always been a 20mph zone but the amount of people that speed up there is unbelievable."

Steven Barron, who works at nearby Reprobrand, said: "I wasn't here when it happened but we sit having lunch at the bar there quite often and there's a lot of heavy lorries going up and down East Claremont Street at the moment." Chris Hill who runs the City Cycling Edinburgh Forum said: "Any road death is a tragedy and this just highlights how vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians can be.

"It might be that the diversion due to the closure of Broughton Road was a factor."

In a separate incident, an eight-year-old boy was taken to the ERI with a suspected broken leg after a collision with a motorcycle in Gorgie Road yesterday morning.

The accident occurred outside Poundstretcher at around 8.45am.

The motorcyclist was yesterday helping police with their inquiries.

Anyone with information on either incident should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.