Fresh appeal for witnesses to fatal A38 crash
At 10.53am on Friday 5 September, emergency services attended a serious injury road traffic collision on the A38 Exeter bound carriageway near Smithaleigh, approximately one mile from Lee Mill.
Involved in the collision was a lorry and a pedal cyclist.
The cyclist was treated at the scene before being conveyed by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital with serious injuries where sadly he later died.
The cyclist has been named as Chris Dennehy, 58, from Plympton.
His family has paid tribute to him: “Chris worked at Tesco Lee Mill for 35 years and was highly valued and much liked by staff and customers. He loved cycling and rode to work daily. He was a committed Catholic who spent all of his free time helping others and raising funds for charity.
“A staunch fundraiser for HCPT, The Pilgrimage Trust, for over 30 years he raised tens of thousands of pounds to help handicapped and underprivileged children.
“The family are understandably devastated by this sudden and tragic loss. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
“The family would like to express their gratitude to the Emergency Service personnel who attended the scene of the accident and the Trauma Team at Derriford for all of their efforts to save Chris.”
The A38 Exeter bound was closed whilst investigations into the incident were carried out by officers from the Serious Collisions investigation Unit.
The lorry driver, a 42-year-old man from Plymouth, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and later released on police bail while investigations continue.
Police are appealing for further witnesses to the fatal road traffic collision to come forward.
Sgt Jane Corkhill from the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit said: “We are appealing to motorists travelling east and westbound on the A38 in the Smithaleigh and Lee Mill area around the time of the collision who witnessed the incident. We are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who saw Mr Dennehy cycling prior to the collision or anyone that saw a silver coloured HGV carrying metals and plastics heading eastbound on the A38 around the time of the incident.
"We also are very keen to trace the occupants of a dark coloured 4x4 vehicle that may have witnessed the collision itself. If you have any information please call tel 101 and quote log 252 of 5th September 2014."
