'Sadness and shock' at death of 91-year-old killed during time trial record attempt

Kingston Pheonix Road Club has expressed 'sadness and shock' after member Ray Dare, 91, was killed on Wednesday afternoon during an attempt to set a new age-related time trial record.

The club reports that Dare was hit from behind by a vehicle while riding along the A41 Ashton Clinton bypass, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The incident happened at around 2.45pm, and Dare died from his injuries at the scene.

"It is with huge sadness and shock that I am writing to tell you that Ray passed away this afternoon," read a statement on Kingston Pheonix RC website posted on Wednesday. "As many of you know, Ray was riding a time trial with John Beer today, attempting to set a new national record for a 91 year old."

Beer added his own message under the statement, saying: "Ray died doing what he loved. I'm sure he was well on his way to the record, he'd done the two turns and the long descent, which he would have loved.

"He was hit on a straight flat open piece of road, he had two miles to go. We should all remember him for the truly amazing cyclist and husband and father he was."

Thames Valley Police confirmed on Thursday that a cyclist had died after a collision with a van. They report that the van driver was uninjured and that no arrests were made.

Sergeant Mark Ashby of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, Amersham, said in a statement: "We are investigating the circumstances surrounding this collision which has sadly resulted in the death of a cyclist.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of all those involved in the incident and I would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed or may have dash cam footage of the incident to please contact us."

Information can be passed to the police by telephoning 101 and quoting reference 844 19/7/17.