Cyclist died as vodka bottle in carrier caught in spokes

A CYCLIST died after a bottle of vodka he was carrying in a bag jammed in his spokes and sent him hurtling to the ground, an inquest has heard.

Edward Browne, 66, hung the carrier bag from his handlebars as he cycled home from his local shop.

But the swinging motion of the bag caused the bottle to jam in the spokes, catapulting him over the handlebars and on to the pavement. He died from a skull fracture.

The incident happened in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, at about lunchtime on 12 March. Constable Simon Edwards, who investigated the accident, found a bent spoke in the front wheel and the smashed neck of the unopened vodka bottle.

He told the inquest in Cheltenham: "Due to a swinging motion, it had intruded into the spokes of the front wheel. The wheel locked and he was thrown over the handlebars.''

Mr Browne was slightly over the drink-drive limit and might have survived the accident if he had been wearing a crash helmet, he said.

The coroner, Alan Crickmore, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "This is a freak accident in many respects, but it does show the need for people to be aware that wearing a helmet is a good idea. It's also better for goods to be carried not in bags from the handlebars, but in proper panniers."