A devastating incident unfolded at the junction of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road in Holborn on August 4, 2021, as 41-year-old Dr Marta Krawiec tragically lost her life in a collision with an HGV driver, Kevin Allen. The aftermath of this heart-wrenching event played out in court, concluding on January 12, 2024, with a jury delivering a guilty verdict against the 69-year-old lorry driver.
Dr. Krawiec had been cycling to work when the accident occurred. Kevin Allen, a seasoned HGV driver since 1989, was in the middle of three lanes, waiting for the traffic lights to change at the junction. The prosecutor, Paul Casey, pointed out that Allen intended to turn left, even though the middle lane was designated for vehicles heading straight. He explained that the length of his lorry necessitated the use of this lane for the turn, as manoeuvring from the left lane would have been exceedingly challenging.
