DIED AFTER COLLISION

Tragically Victor Daniel Baker was killed when he was knocked off his bike at the bottom end of Packhorse Road / Chapel Street / Station Road on 4th June 1947 aged 57.

I have found 2 articles in the Derby Evening Telegraph about the accident :

1. DIED AFTER COLLISION : Victor Daniel Baker (57) a gardener's labourer of 82 Derby Road, Melbourne, died in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary last night from injuries received when he was in collision with a motor lorry at the junction of Chapel Street, Packhorse Road and Station Road Melbourne earlier in the evening. The lorry was driven by Frank Lakin (24) High Street, Melbourne and owned by Mr J B Laban of Blackwell House, Melbourne. (Derby Evening Telegraph June 5th 1947)

2. CYCLISTS DEATH : "OTHER PROCEEDINGS" - CORONER : At a Derby inquest on Saturday the Coroner, Mr T H Bishop, advised the jury not to add a rider to their verdict, adding that in all probability other proceedings would arise. A verdict of 'accidental death' was returned by the jury on Victor Daniel Baker (57) of 82 Derby Road, Melbourne, who was killed in a road accident on June 4th.
Baker was in a collision with a motor lorry while riding his cycle at the junction of Chapel Street, Staion Road and Packhorse Road.
The Coroner said that he thought the actions of the driver fell short of criminal negligence.
DROVE AT 20 MPH : The driver of the lorry, Frank Lakin of 24 High Street, Melbourne, stated at the inquest that he did not want to give evidence. In an alleged statement to the police, read by Police Constable W H Clarke, Lakin said that he was travelling about 20 mph when the accident happened. The cyclist went straight in front of him and it was impossible to avoid him.
Reginald Lakin, father of the driver and a passenger in the lorry, said he did not think his son saw the cyclist coming out from the side street.
Mrs M J Newbury of 8 Packhorse Road said that she thought the lorry was travelling 'rather fast'. She saw a bicycle and thought it had fallen from the lorry. Then she saw a man rolling in the road. (Derby Evening Telegraph June 9th 1947)

I have just discovered a letter written by May, his wife to her sister shortly after the accident - I found it very moving and it bought a tear to my eye, it gives such insight to the episode, it reads :

Dear Jess, A few lines before you go on holiday. Thanks for letter this morning. I am keeping fairly well but cannot eat much yet and it gives one the palpitations. I've not been down Melbourne shopping yet, I cannot talk to people. If only he had fell on his arm or leg instead of his head, it seems too awful to be taken from us like that. A fortnight today since he went from his dinner as happy and jolly as he usually was. I've wished that boy was still in navy, the reckless driver.
I had a very nice letter from cousin Una yesterday, she is very thoughtful and kind hearted. I feel very hurt as I've never had one line from Ada, but I've had some very nice letters from all sorts of people, near and far.
We are having a drop of nice rain this morning but it will do good. Margy came over in the day on Tuesday to do me a bit of shopping. I hope Grandma is keeping better and able to go out this nice weather.
I envy you going on holiday. I wish we were. But Dan said we won't bother this year as J & H arn't going to seaside, just day trips this time.
Am sorry to tell you my laying hen has got the cramp or something, she can't stand or walk since Sunday, but has laid 2 eggs. I wish it had been the other hen, aren't I unlucky.
I had a letter from Ron (?) he is still at Warrington, Padgate RAF Station. He says the Sergent swears at these boys all day long, take them on 4 ....... till they feel fit to drop and when they get back they have to do PP for an hour. They are doing 8 weeks tough training and then get moved on somewhere else.
Well I will close and hope you will drop me a line when on your holiday. Your loving sis May. Yes I saw Mrs Drinkwater's death in paper at DRI. I didn't know he had 500 left him. Come and see on your return.

post script : The Police Constable WH Clarke was our next door neighbour when we lived at 187 Station Road, he told me about the accident, he lived in a police house at the bottom end of Packhorse Road and was there when the accident happened. He told me he still had the hoe Dan had on his bike at the time.

I also had a conversation once with the driver's sister, who said she was very sorry about the accident. That they were going to collect a table in the lorry, at the time of the accident, and how she wished they had never bought the table because then the accident wouldn't have happened.

My Dad told me that at the time him and Mum were living in High Street and the driver of the lorry Frank Lakin lived next door to them ! He said the lad came round to their house to appologise but he was so angry he pushed him out of the door. Uncle Gerald had just gone off to do his National Service with the RAF and was called back. Also Uncle Maurice was courting Betty Laban whose family owned the lorry.

From all the information I think he must have been coming down the Twichels from Derby Road which comes out at the bottom of Chapel Street. I would like to know what the coroner meant when he advised the jury not to add a rider to their verdict. Such a tragic event and so soon after the end of the second world war.