Inquest into Wilmington cyclist killed in Swanley Lane bin lorry crash concludes death a 'tragic accident'
A "kind" and "caring" teenager who died after colliding with a bin lorry was just days away from starting university, an inquest heard.
Cyclist Jack Bruce, 19, was killed after he rode his Ridley push bike into the side of a refuse truck that was carrying out a manoeuvre in Swanley Lane, Swanley.
The accident happened at about 11.30am on September 15, 2021, at the junction with New Road.
Paramedics attended but the teenager died from his injuries, an inquest at Maidstone;s County Hall heard this week.
Assistant coroner for North West Kent Alan Blunsdon gave Mr Bruce's cause of death as "multiple fractures, internal organ damage and trauma".
Mr Bruce, from Wilmington, near Dartford, was described to the court as a "keen and competent cyclist" who was wearing a helmet and other safety gear at the time.
The student and part-time retail assistant was heading towards Swanley town centre to pick up a laptop needed for his upcoming studies at Swansea University.
He had been travelling at about 14mph along Swanley Lane during heavy morning traffic, the inquest heard.
The cyclist overtook two sets of Mercedes Econic bin lorries collecting for Sevenoaks council, which were headed in the same direction, towards the Sundridge tip.
CCTV and dashcam footage from the second lorry, driven by a Mr Tate, shows the truck stop just before the junction with Swanley Lane and New Road.
The lorry creeps forward in a "lurching motion" before momentarily pausing for two seconds and then edging out as it indicated and turned left into the side street.
However Mr Bruce, who had switched to cycling on the pavement to avoid the traffic, fails to stop in time and crashes into the vehicle.
The driver who struck Mr Bruce was not arrested or charged in relation to the incident.
The hearing was told there was a “massive bang” at the point of impact in which Mr Bruce's bike collided with the bin lorry.
Road traffic investigator PC Duncan Swallow read a statement he produced upon reviewing the video footage and witness accounts.
Looking at dashcam footage, he said the indicator came on after the lorry moved forward but before it began to turn into New Road.
PC Swallow said there was a "four-second window" when the cyclist would have been visible by the driver.
Counsel acting for the family had questioned officers on whether the rubbish collector's standard of driving had fallen below that of a "careful, competent" motorist.
It was put to the officer that there was a “late and hasty decision” to turn left that was “executed in a hurry”.
PC Swallow agreed there was a relatively short amount of time between the decision to turn and the execution of the manoeuvre but did not agree with the "commentary of it being hasty”.
He was asked: “Can you accept that a factor in Jack’s death was Mr Tate’s late decision to turn left?
To which PC Swallow replied: "No."
Lee Burridge, from Kent Police's serious collision unit, carried out eyesight and drug tests at the scene which the driver passed.
His conclusion was that it was "unfortunately" the actions of Mr Bruce, cycling across the junction "without stopping or checking it was safe to do so", that were the cause of death.
“His actions, driving on the pavement combined with the speed of his approach, were such that Mr Tate had no time to recognise Mr Bruce before making his turn into New Road," he told the court.
The coroner also heard Mr Bruce was wearing wireless earphones while cycling but officers were unable to establish whether he had been listening to music.
Dr Waria Mohamid, the forensic pathologist who carried out the post mortem on Mr Bruce, also gave evidence.
The doctor told the inquest Mr Bruce had died as a result of "trauma" caused by "multiple internal organ injuries and fractures".
Recording a conclusion of death by "road traffic collision", Mr Blunsdon said: "This is a tragic accident but it is an accident.
"And in those circumstances, unanimously agreed, it is one of road traffic collision and this is what I have recorded on the record of inquest."
He went on to pay his respects to the family who were present throughout the two-day hearing,
The retired circuit judge said he was "very moved" by the "pen portrait" read by Mr Bruce's mother, before adding: "Can I express my deepest sympathies to you on the sad loss of Jack and the pain you have gone through over the last few days."
At a pre-inquest review, his family had indicated they wanted all options on the table when the inquest was heard due to the involvement of the bin lorry.
In a statement released by Mr Bruce's parents, Yvonne and Simon, following the inquest's conclusion, they said: “The findings of the inquest this week provided us with some answers but not all the answers we wanted, which was disappointing.
“Jack was a kind, sensitive and caring young man on the cusp of starting his adult life..."
"Since the day after Jack’s passing the police gave us the impression of having made up their mind that the collision happened due to Jack’s actions, and that the lorry had been driven faultlessly.
"In spite of compelling contrary evidence to the coroner, the police officers who gave evidence stood by their original conclusions and that is difficult for us to understand and accept.
“Jack was a kind, sensitive and caring young man on the cusp of starting his adult life.
"He was excited to begin this new journey at Swansea University, which he was due to start on the Friday.
"It has broken us to know we will never see the man he could have turned into.
"Given this verdict, we will work hard, in Jack’s memory, to ensure that correct driving practices are adopted and employed by HGV operators and drivers to ensure no other family has to endure this kind of pain and suffering.”
A spokesman for Sevenoaks council, said: "Everyone at the council is deeply saddened by the tragic accident and the loss of this young man’s life.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Bruce and all those affected by this incident.”