CHARITY CYCLE CRASH TRAGEDY
Moira man killed during stage of fundraiser in Wales
Gareth was raising funds in memory of school friend went to University.
by STACEY HEANEY
A MOIRA man undertaking a cycling and running challenge between Northern
Ireland and London to raise money in memory of his friend has died after
being struck by a car soon after arriving in North Wales.
Gareth Crockett, 27, was hit by the vehicle on Anglesey after 10am on Wednesday morning as he began to cycle through Wales on his way to Bristol.
He was undertaking a challenge, alongside pal Jez Davison, to complete four marathons in different locations across Ireland and England, cycling between each, with the aim of raising £10,000 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research. It was in memory of their friend, fellow Moira man John Erwin, who passed away last year.
The pair were among a group of five cycling eastbound along the A55 dual carriageway when the accident happened between junctions six and seven near Llangefni.
A 77-year-old man, understood to be the car driver, was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, with knee and ankle injuries.
Gareth and Jez had begun their challenge by running a marathon in Moira on Sunday before cycling to Dublin and completing another marathon around Phoenix Park.
The pair then took the Dublin to Holyhead ferry to cycle through Wales to Bristol where Gareth, a former pupil at Wallace High School
Wallace `devastated' at former pupil's death
The challenge was due to finish when they would take on the London Marathon on Sunday.
The Principal of Wallace High School, Deborah O'Hare, said the whole school family was 'devastated' by the news.
"Gareth left Wallace in 2002 with top grades in his A Levels. He continued his education at Oxford University and then Bristol where he graduated with a degree in Geography. He has been working in London for a few years" Mrs. O'Hare said.
"Gareth was a highly intelligent student who contributed much to the life of the school.
His older sister, Emma, and younger brother, Jonathan, are also former pupils.
"He was always full of life and planning his next project. He was a keen cyclist and had already cycled across America. It was during a charity cycle ride that Gareth was killed when a car hit the group of cyclists on a road on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales.
"The thoughts of the Wallace community are with his family at this time. His former school friends are also distraught and finding it difficult to come to terms with Gareth's sudden death. He will be greatly missed by one and all."
Gareth worked for Towers Watson, a leading consultancy agency in London.
Colleagues had begun to leave comments on Gareth's Justgiving site on Thursday morning, saying they were thinking of his family "at this sad time", as they made donations to the challenge, which has already exceeded the £10,000 target.
A police spokesman said: "The deceased man was among a group of five cyclists understood to be on a sponsored charity bike ride. The driver nas been bailed pending further inquiries."
A Wales Ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 10.13am. An ambulance, rapid response vehicle and the North Wales helicopter were dispatched. Paramedics declared one patient deceased at scene."
Ulster Star
15/04/2011
