A CYCLIST warned someone would be killed at the exact spot where a man died after being knocked off his bike over Easter.
Peter Finch, 46, died from head injuries in hospital after the accident on Sunday at the Derringham Bank roundabout, where Willerby Road and Spring Bank West meet.
John Chapman, 55, of west Hull, wrote to the Mail's letters page last summer after he was also knocked off his bike by a car on the same roundabout.
Mr Chapman said: "I warned this would happen. The roundabout is, in my opinion, dangerous.
"I felt sick when I heard a cyclist had been killed there last weekend. I almost feel guilty because I knew this would happen but no one listened.
"This council really needs to look again at its design and make improvements before anyone else is killed or seriously injured."
In his letter, printed in the Mail on July 20, Mr Chapman – who spent three days in hospital with concussion – spelled out his concerns and predicted someone would be killed or seriously injured.
He wrote: "How long is it going to take the council to act?
"I don't like saying this but I predict someone will be killed at that roundabout.
"Maybe then the council will act."
Mr Finch was knocked off his Raleigh bike by a black Renault Clio on Easter Sunday.
Although the accident is still being investigated by police, Mr Chapman, an unemployed construction worker, believes the design of the busy roundabout may have played a part.
He said: "As I put in my letter to the Mail last year, I spoke to a lot of shopkeepers in the area and they told me there are regularly accidents on that roundabout.
"I cycle every day and, in my view, it is the most dangerous roundabout in this city."
Mr Chapman believes the pedestrian crossings are located too close to the roundabout. He said: "You have a green zone for cyclists that goes around the roundabout. But cars obviously have to cross this to navigate around the roundabout.
"In my view, drivers are distracted by the crossings and then slam their brakes on when they come round the roundabout. They're not taking in what's around them and that's when accidents happen.
"Moving the crossings away from the roundabout might help."
Last night, Hull City Council said it takes safety seriously but it would not be drawn on what, if any, improvements would be made to the busy roundabout in light of the recent tragedy.
In a statement, Andy Burton, the local authority's Streetscene manager, said: "As this unfortunate incident is currently being investigated by Humberside Police, we are unable to comment. However, the safety of all road users and pedestrians is paramount and we all have a responsibility to make our roads safer.
"Hull City Council is informed by the police of all injury accidents that take place within the city. We then look at the details of the incident to see if there are any patterns developing, for example location and the time of accident, to see if any changes or improvements can be made to the layout of the road, street lighting or road surface, to help reduce the risk of injury accidents from taking place again at this location."
A 29-year-old man arrested in connection with the fatal accident has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Police say they are keen to talk to anyone who witnessed the collision between Mr Finch's bike and the Renault.
Have you been injured on the Derringham Bank roundabout? Call Kevin Shoesmith on 01482 315266.
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