Cyclist killed in crash at notorious Yorkshire Dales accident black spot Dibbles Bridge

Dibbles Bridge has a 50ft drop to the river below

The 66-year-old man was riding alone along the B6265 Hebden Road when he came off his bike at Dibbles Bridge near Appletreewick.

It is not known whether he was struck by a vehicle or collided with a stationary object and police are investigating the circumstances.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and had been travelling from Pateley Bridge towards Grassington at 4.20pm on April 22.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the cyclist prior to the incident to email [email protected] or call 101 quoting incident reference number 12200067399.

Dibbles Bridge is an accident black spot and has been the scene of two fatal coach crashes caused by brake failure. It is notorious for the steep descent from Fancarl Top to the bottom of the valley at Grimwith Reservoir and has also claimed the lives of two other cyclists in recent years.

In 2015, cardiologist Dr George Ballard fell 50ft into the River Dibb after colliding with the bridge and died. He was thrown over his handlebars in the collision while cycling with his friend Dr Nick Hayward, whom he had overtaken before the descent to Dibbles Bridge. The 41-year-old from Ben Rhydding, near Ilkley, worked at Leeds General Infirmary and had a wife and two children.

In 2014 Skipton cyclist James Nelson was also killed in similar circumstances at the same spot. The 32-year-old was on a training ride with Skipton Cycling Club and was trying to catch up with others when his brakes locked on the descent and he fell into the river bed below. His body was not found until the next morning by Environment Agency workers surveying the river.

Safety barriers have since been erected.

In 1925, seven people on a group trip from York to Bolton Abbey died when their coach's brakes failed on the descent and it failed to negotiate the bend at Dibbles Bridge.

A similar accident occurred in 1975 when 33 pensioners from Thornaby-on-Tees on an outing to Grassington were killed when their vehicle lost control and struck the bridge parapet.