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6:30am Friday 3rd July 2009
AN 11-year-old schoolgirl last night died after suffering serious head injuries in a crash in Abingdon.
Ty-Ree Partridge was cycling home from Larkmead School’s science club when she and a van collided in Copenhagen Drive on Wednesday night.
She suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital but passed away last night.
A hospital spokesman said: “Sadly she has died.”
Her death, coming nine months after another Larkmead pupil, Sarah Waterhouse, died in a cycling accident, sparked calls for safer roads in the town.
Larkmead headteacher Chris Harris believed Ty-Ree had been riding along the designated cycle path but did not know how the accident happened.
He said in a letter to parents: “Ty-ree had stayed to attend our science club and was making her way home by bike.
“Once she had traversed the pathway from the bridge above our school to Copenhagen Drive, she began to make her way to Dunmore Road.
“We do not know exactly what happened next but she collided with a van and suffered very serious injuries.”
He added: “We’re still going through a very serious grieving process and establishing a sense of balance from when we lost one of our students Sarah Waterhouse, which in a school takes time. When another incident of this nature happens you go through that process again.”
Thames Valley Police said no arrests had been made over the incident.
Last night, Di Mashiter, the headteacher of the town’s John Mason School – where Ty-Ree had previously attended – called on Oxfordshire County Council to act immediately to make the town’s roads safer.
The heads of Larkmead, Fitzharrys, John Mason, Abingdon School, St Helen and St Katherine, Our Lady’s Convent and Abingdon & Witney College want: l 20mph speed limits l New pedestrian crossings l Speed humps Ms Mashiter said: “Al-though Ty-Ree was only at John Mason School for a short period of time, she was a valued member of our school community.
“Our thoughts are with Ty-Ree’s family and friends at this very difficult time.
“The council must act now and work with us to provide safer roads on which our children can travel to school.”
Teresa Kelly, the principal of Abingdon & Witney College, said: “I don’t think urgent is a strong enough word – it has to take priority now.”
Anthony Kirkwood, of Oxfordshire County Council’s road safety unit, said that a full investigation would take place into the accident.
He said £35,000 had been set aside for improvements to cycle routes in Abingdon and officers were exploring measures to improve road safety around Larkmead School.
Susan Tranter, headteacher of Fitzharrys, said: “If every road had a cycle way, that would be a significant way forward but that would not be enough.
“We would have to continue to educate all adults, cyclists and road users to make the best of these community facilities and promote safety and well-being.”
news@oxfordmail.co.uk
Leopardy, Abingdon says...
8:16am Fri 3 Jul 09
Abingdon Neil, Abingdon says...
8:32am Fri 3 Jul 09
LanceIot, Abingdon says...
9:38am Fri 3 Jul 09
Cyclist 'n Driver, Wallingford says...
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mechcol, Oxford says...
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BartSimpson, Springfield says...
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Superstar2167, Abingdon says...
11:43am Fri 3 Jul 09
wallingford1, wallingford says...
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wallingford1, wallingford says...
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Danny A, Headington says...
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carioca, Abingdon says...
2:10pm Fri 3 Jul 09
Paul, Abingdon, Abingdon says...
2:12pm Fri 3 Jul 09
William Bonnie, Boot Hill says...
2:28pm Fri 3 Jul 09
wallingford1, wallingford says...
2:28pm Fri 3 Jul 09
michelle.m, Abingdon says...
2:37pm Fri 3 Jul 09
mechcol, Oxford says...
3:05pm Fri 3 Jul 09
William Bonnie wrote:William Bonnie you are talking out your a*** ,I have been in Car trade 25 years + ,yes these bumps contribute to wear and tear especially if you dont slow down and to say there is invisible damage to tyres where is the proof there is none unless u drive like a pratt ..
Look, the concrete blocks damage car tyres, full stop, any speed. I don't care about the cost of tyres. If those who ranted at what I said had actually read it they'd have seen I was talking about dangerous invisible damage to tyres which could cause a crash. To create this damage voluntarily is disturbing, to put it mildly. The blocks are also a considerable cause of pollution. I have ridden a bike, a motorbike and driven a car in Abingdon and the cycle ways are pretty blooming good
Paul, Abingdon, Abingdon says...
3:47pm Fri 3 Jul 09
William Bonnie, Boot Hill says...
3:57pm Fri 3 Jul 09
carioca, Abingdon says...
4:21pm Fri 3 Jul 09
mrspacebar, abingdon says...
4:36pm Fri 3 Jul 09
Paul, Abingdon, Abingdon says...
4:36pm Fri 3 Jul 09
Grumpy09, Oxon says...
4:38pm Fri 3 Jul 09
mumofchildren, Abingdon says...
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Miaa, Abingdon says...
6:24pm Fri 3 Jul 09
andrew232323, abingdon says...
7:58pm Fri 3 Jul 09
Old zimner, Oxford says...
4:59am Sat 4 Jul 09
christian27, Abingdon says...
8:42am Sat 4 Jul 09
tribalamazonian, Oxford says...
4:44pm Sat 4 Jul 09
Miaa wrote:I'm afraid that most articles on this website result in people being at one another's throats and the original article is forgotten about as the usual arguments come out time and again. Roads like Copenhagen Drive have always been dangerous for cyclists, motorists and lets not forget pedestrians, but many contributors here see it appropriate to decide all motorists are to be pilloried because of the actions of a small minority (and they have the same contempt for cyclists). Until we know the facts, this is a tragic accident and no-one can be blamed until we know exactly what happened.
I am a pupil at larkmead school. I am also in yr 7 but i was not very close to her. Despite this fact i think it is stupid that you are all arguing over this. I admit most kids at our school do act like idiots but Ty-ree was not like this. She was very sensible and so was Sarah Waterhouse. I do not think there is any question about it. The roads are dangerous. I know that when i walk home the roads are very scary places to cross or even walk beside. We had a whole school assembely today and our yr 7 celebration was cancelled. Everyone was crying. I hope that something is done and us kids dont have to go through this kind of pain again. It is horrible loosing someone. What would you prefer to loose. A car tyre and a childs life?
Wizwam, Abingdin says...
7:20pm Sat 4 Jul 09
vjp, drayton says...
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Wizwam, Abingdin says...
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Maisieeeex, devon says...
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Maisieeeex, devon says...
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Maisieeeex, devon says...
9:44pm Sat 4 Jul 09
carioca, Abingdon says...
9:47am Mon 6 Jul 09
carioca, Abingdon says...
9:54am Mon 6 Jul 09
Abingdon_born_Cowley, Abingdon says...
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Old zimner, Oxford says...
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carioca, Abingdon says...
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Xander, says...
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Ron Beaty, Gardenstown says...
12:01pm Tue 14 Jul 09
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William Bonnie, Boot Hill says...
7:33am Fri 3 Jul 09