A TOP-LEVEL investigation is continuing today into an horror accident which claimed the life of a cyclist when he was hit by a speeding car as its driver fled from police.

The 55-year-old Bingley man, who had not been named by police was pronounced dead at the scene after the high-speed collision in Cottingley Cliffe Road, Cottingley, Bingley, on Tuesday evening.

A joint investigation by West Yorkshire Police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.

The 22-year-old driver of the silver Vauxhall Vectra involved was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He remained in police custody last night.

Cottingley Cliffe Road was closed all of yesterday as investigations continued at the scene by police and IPPC experts.

Police said the car driver had been requested to stop after “acting suspiciously,” but sped off and hit with the cyclist shortly afterwards.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman declined to explain the nature of the suspicious activity, or comment on suggestions that a car had sped off from police and hit a van, after an apparent drugs deal near to the Sun Inn in Bradford Old Road, Cottingley, at about the same time.

Witnesses spoke of the horror at seeing the aftermath of the incident and of the frequent problem of speeding drivers in the area.

Farmer John Ludbrook told how he saw the horrific crash site as he moved cows into a neighbouring field.

“It was terrible, I could see the silver car all covered with blood down one side of it,” Mr Ludbrook, of Cliffe Farm.

“I’d gone up to move some cows and a policewoman said I couldn’t put them into the field by the road because there’d been an accident.

“She said it was a major incident and I couldn’t go near the wall.

“It’s just madness on that road all the time and in my view there aren’t enough speed cameras.

“It needs to be a flat 30mph which should continue from Bingley Road right the way through and there should be bollards where the cross-hatched areas are to stop people using it as an overtaking lane coming up the hill.

“Often I’m waiting to turn right into the farm and have people leaning on their horns behind me because they just want to race up to the top.”

Retired couple Sam and Lorraine Pearson have lived near the fatal crash site for 32 years.

They complained that Cottingley Cliffe Road had turned into a “mini motorway.”

“When we moved here it was a country road, but now it’s either a traffic jam from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm or it’s a mini motorway,” Mrs Pearson said.

“There have been at least five major accidents since we’ve been here and once a taxi came right through our garden wall and hedge.

“After the speed camera heading up the hill, the cars just take off and fly up to the next one,” Mr Pearson added.

“And now they’ve turned it into three lanes by driving up the middle over all the chevrons then cutting back into traffic at the top of the hill.

“It’s all charging up and down and then big braking. It’s madness.”

Civil servant Tabbi Bhatti, who has recently moved with his family to Cottingley Cliffe Road, said: “The issue is young men driving cars as if they’re toys.

“I’ve seen cars doing 100mph up and down this road.

“And when they come up, they cross over into the opposite lane to get past the speed camera’s road markings.

“Another problem is young men hiring high performance cars just for a day.

“They give someone 200 quid and go out in something they are not capable of driving - but of course they want to go fast.

“Speed humps or cameras won’t stop it. It’s the mentality.”

A police spokesman said: “A police vehicle was on patrol in Cottingley Moor Road when officers noticed the occupant of a silver Vauxhall Vectra acting suspiciously.

“Officers requested the vehicle to stop, but it sped off and collided with a cyclist in Cottingley Cliffe Road shortly afterwards. ?

“Police are working with the Independent Police Complaints Commission to establish the full circumstances of this collision and the moments prior to it.”?

An IPCC spokesman added: “The IPCC has begun an independent investigation following a fatal road traffic incident involving West Yorkshire Police in Cottingley Cliffe Road, Bingley, which occurred at about 7.30pm yesterday (Tuesday).

“The IPCC was notified of the incident and immediately deployed investigators to oversee an examination of the scene and post incident procedures. We will issue a further update as information becomes available.

“Anyone who may have seen or heard anything which could help the investigation is asked to call the IPCC on 0800 096 9070 or email witness@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101, quoting log 1743 of 19 July.

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