Shropshire Road Victim Named With New Witness Appeal

Police have named the cyclist who died in a south Shropshire road collision and issued details of a vehicle they are trying to trace.

Mr John Edmund Searle, aged 59, from Craven Arms, died when involved in a collision while cycling along the B4368 Corvedale Road at around 8.25am yesterday.

A number of vehicles are thought to have been involved following an initial impact between the bike and a car travelling in the same direction, towards Diddlebury.

Officers have already spoken to the drivers of a red Kia Rio, a black Mercedes CLS 350, a blue Citroen C2 and a white VW Transporter van but are now anxious to trace another vehicle which was seen nearby at the time.

Collision investigator, PC Gavin Williams, said: "It's vital we speak to everyone who may have seen Mr Searle on his bike either before the collision, or just after.

"We have traced a number of motorists who have been able to assist but we are now appealing for the driver of a dark coloured 4x4, possibly a Suzuki Jimny which was immediately in front of the red Kia Rio heading towards Diddlebury, to get in touch.

"There was also a blue Ford Fiesta in front of the 4x4 and a taxi coming in the other direction towards Craven Arms.  The drivers of both these vehicles have been traced."

He urged the driver of the 4x4 to contact Shrewsbury police station on 101 as a matter of urgency.  "We are also appealing to any other road users who saw Mr Searle riding along the Corvedale Road shortly after 8am yesterday (Oct 17), to make contact."

A report on the circumstances leading up to the tragedy is being prepared by police for the Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery.

A second man was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with leg injuries, thought to have been sustained while trying to help Mr Searle.

A post mortem is due to be held tomorrow and an inquest is likely to be opened early next week.

Please note: Mr Searle's family do not wish to be contacted by the media and we ask that their wish is respected.

 Issued: Thursday, 18 October 2012