Cyclist found not guilty of fatal towpath crash

THE cyclist involved with the woman who later died in hospital has been found not guilty.

Edward Bressan, aged 56, was found not guilty by a jury of causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving, contrary to section 35 of the Offence against the Person Act 1861, at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Thursday, Trevor Mapstone reports.

Taken to hospital

It was on Sunday November 20th 2022 that Mr  Bressan was cycling on the Thames near Iffley Lock and was involved in a collision with a pedestrian, Polly Friedhoff, aged 81.  As a result of the accident Ms Friedhoff was taken to hospital, where she died on the 2nd December, 2022.

During the trial on Tuesday, Mr Bressan gave his account of the crash which he told the court was ‘unavoidable’. Stating he was cycling at a ‘moderate pace’ because there were other cyclists and pedestrians on the towpath.

During the trial, Professor Proudfoot, who was cycling in the area at the time, told the court it was his ‘impression’ that Ms Friedhoff had lost her balance as opposed to being knocked over.

Routine stroll

Ms Friedhoff’s friend Ewa Huggins, who had joined her on their routine stroll, said the incident happened suddenly and her friend was 'catapulted with incredible force'.

Mr Kuljeet Dobe, told the court:

"I'm going to to suggest suggested that Mr Bressan did ring his bell and you moved a bit further to the right-hand side, you said something to Polly and she moved suddenly and that was when his bike made contact with her and that is when she fell."

Mr Dobe also suggested that Ms Friedhoff did not fall across the towpath but fell more or less where the contact was made.