Olivia Wojciechowska, 18, was crushed to death under the wheels of a lorry when she had a ‘momentary lapse of judgement’
A teenage waitress who ‘wore headphones while cycling’ was crushed to death under the wheels of a lorry when she had a ‘momentary lapse of judgement’, an inquest has heard.
Olivia Wojciechowska, 18, failed to activate a pelican crossing light and accidentally rode into the path of the lorry as it turned into the road she was crossing.
She was struck by the cab of the lorry, dragged under the wheels and suffered fatal crush injuries. She died in hospital the following day.
Police found a broken set of headphones at the crash scene at Eccles Old Road in Salford, in Greater Manchester, but it was not known whether Olivia had been wearing them at the time of the collision.
Krzysztof Charewicz, the driver of the truck, had been completing a delivery.
He was cleared of any blame after investigators said the 5mph impact was unavoidable.
The Bolton hearing was told the tragedy occurred at 3.30pm on September 1 last year after Olivia had left work at Smiths Restaurant in Eccles and approached the busy junction from the pavement.
The driver of the truck Krzysztof Charewicz who had been completing a delivery was cleared of any blame after investigators said the 5mph impact was unavoidable.
The Bolton hearing was told the tragedy occurred at 3.30pm on September 1 last year after Olivia – described as ‘the life and soul of the party’ – had just left work at Smith’s Restaurant in Eccles and approached the busy junction from the pavement.
Mr Charewicz, who has not driven since the crash, told the hearing: ‘As I approached the junction I saw a bike on the pavement.
‘I had my indicator on to turn left and my positional lights on and I conducted the turn. I couldn’t say what speed I was going but it was slow. I heard something and stopped, I didn’t know what it was.
‘I thought I had clipped the kerb or the barrier. I wondered if another vehicle had attempted to undertake me and I had caught it.
‘I wish I could turn back the clock that day.’
Olivia was killed when she was dragged under the wheels of a lorry (pictured: a bike installed in memory of the teenager at the junction of Eccles Old Road and Lancaster Road)
Olivia was struck by the cab of the lorry and dragged under the wheels and suffered fatal crush injuries. She died in hospital the following day
Olivia was killed on the junction of Eccles Old Road and Lancaster Road (pictured) after the collision on September 1 last year
Motorist David Ramos, who witnessed the crash, said: ‘I noticed a lorry turning left and as it started to make its turn, I saw a bike close to the kerb on the pavement. The bike hit the cab of the lorry and then went underneath the vehicle. The pedestrian light was on red but she didn’t stop.
‘The lorry was going normal speed for that corner and stopped pretty quickly and people came over to help Olivia who was underneath the lorry.
I don’t think the driver could have done anything to stop the collision. I feel he didn’t do anything wrong – he was already turning when the girl rode into the road.’
Another witness, Wilfred Wignall, said: ‘The lorry was two feet from the end of the railing and the bike just rode straight in front of it. Just before the impact she turned her head and cried out. There was no way of avoiding her…the driver had no chance.’
The inquest heard how Olivia would ‘sometimes wear headphones to listen to music’ while she was cycling
Olivia had moved to the UK from the small Polish town of Byton in 2007.
Her mother, Elzbieta Wojciechowska, said in a statement: ‘Olivia went to school here and was very sociable and had lots of friends.
‘For the last two months prior to her death she had a boyfriend. She had been working at Smith’s Restaurant for about a year and she was much liked and well respected.
‘On September 1 she went to work at about 10am – she would usually ride her bike to work and did so that day. She would ride her bike to work most days and sometimes she would wear headphones to listen to music.
‘She was in a good mood and there were no problems. But at 4pm that day we received a call saying she had been in a collision and we went to the Hospital and in the early hours of September 2 she sadly passed away.’
Inspector Paul Rowe, of Greater Manchester Police, who investigated the tragedy said: ‘The weather that day was fine with good visibility and at the scene amongst a number of other belongings was one earphone that was completely broken. I cannot say whether it belonged to Olivia or whether she had been wearing it.
‘Mr Charewicz’s manoeuvre was almost text book and the vehicle checks post-collision didn’t show any problems. If Olivia had glanced over and see the vehicle slightly in the second lane she may have presumed it was going straight on.
‘We don’t know what may or may not have distracted Olivia at that time. The driver had no chance to avoid the collision and there was no more evidence that would change the outcome.’
The tragedy occurred at 3.30pm on September 1 at Eccles Old Road (pictured) in Salford
Recording a conclusion of road traffic collision coroner, Alan Walsh said: ‘Olivia was a very well liked and a sociable young lady. She is someone who will be missed by family, friends and colleagues. She went to work using her bike and travelled the same road.
‘Mr Charewicz was driving a large HGV vehicle and he came to the junction at the time she was riding along the footpath. He was driving the vehicle in the appropriate position and speed and he had done the various checks.
‘As he made that turn Olivia came to the junction and for whatever reason she didn’t stop to activate the pedestrian lights and as she approached the junction the lights would have been showing red for her to stop.
‘Sadly she didn’t stop and caused herself and her bike to collide with the side of the vehicle causing her to go underneath the vehicle, sustaining unsurvivable injuries.
‘There is no direct evidence that her headphones were being worn at the time of the collision. I don’t know what happened but sadly and tragically Olivia had a momentary lapse of judgement.
‘This was an enormous tragedy that could not have been avoided and an investigation has ruled out that Mr Charewicz’s driving fell below standard.
‘It only takes a moment of lapse of concentration to cause catastrophic consequences.’