Tributes paid to Darlington cyclist killed by car (From The Advertiser Series)

Tributes paid to Darlington cyclist killed by car

4:03pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)

THE family of a grandfather killed while cycling across a busy junction have described him as a man who "would do anything for anyone".

Ken Wise, 59, of Bangor Grove, Darlington, was at the junction of McMullen Road and the B6279 on Friday lunchtime when he was in collision with a Kia Picanto and died at the scene from head and chest injuries.

The Kia driver, a 23-year-old woman, was treated by paramedics for shock and is helping police with their investigation.

Mr Wise, who lived in Darlington for more than 20 years, was from a farming family in Little Stainton and leaves behind nine siblings along with his wife Susan, 64, and three daughters, Pamela, 37, Victoria, 39 and Anne, 40.

He worked at the Cleveland Bridge engineering firm on Yarm Road for 17 years and used to cycle there every day, wearing a high visibility vest and a helmet.

He was on his way home to spend an afternoon with his grandchildren, Elliot five and Bronwyn, two, when he was hit by the car at around 1pm last Friday.

Eldest daughter, Anne Kelso, of Merrybent, described Mr Wise as a "quirky character" who enjoyed fixing things: "He was very much into making things. He liked his woodwork and would have a go at fixing anything," she said.

"He was always helping people in the street with things like fixing bikes.

"He would do anything for anybody, we would always ask him for help because he was so handy."

Mrs Kelso's husband, Kevin, said that their daughter Bronwyn "thinks the world" of her grandfather and has not stopped asking when he's coming home.

Witnesses to the accident said that Mr Wise, who was wearing a bicycle helmet, was cycling across the B6279 when the collision occurred.

Two ambulances and the Great North Air Ambulance Service attended and police closed the road for several hours.

A Durham police spokeswoman said that a report is now being prepared for the coroner and an inquest will be heard in due course.