A GRANDFATHER who was killed while cycling across a busy junction had a “momentary error of judgement”, an inquest heard.

Ken Wise, 59, was cycling across a pedestrian crossing on the junction of McMullen Road and the B6279 on Friday, October 12 when he was hit by a Kia Picanto. He died at the scene from head and chest injuries.

The father-of-three of Bangor Grove, Darlington, was a keen cyclist and used to cycle to work every day at the Cleveland Bridge engineering firm, in Yarm Road, wearing a high visibility jacket and helmet.

However, the inquest at Crook Civic Centre heard Mr Wise had a “momentary error of judgement” as he began to cross the road in front of the oncoming car while the pedestrian crossing light was still on red.

Ruling Mr Wise had died from an accident, Coroner Andrew Tweddle said: “Quite simply this was an accident. The driver could not have done anything to avoid the impact.

"Many of us have momentary lapses of concentration and we get away with it. Ken on this occasion just did not."

The Kia driver, a 23-year-old woman and her male passenger were both medical students on placement at Darlington Memorial Hospital. They rang for an ambulance and performed CPR on Mr Wise.