Evening Standard/London
A cyclist who got engaged in the summer has been killed in a crash with a lorry - just months after her sister died in childbirth.
Physiotherapist Stephanie Turner, 29, died two miles from her home when she was hit by an HGV in Seven Sisters Road, Stamford Hill, on her way to patient appointment on Tuesday last week.
It comes after her sister Claire Widdicombe, a 38-year-old primary school teacher, died while giving birth last September.
Turner, an enthusiastic runner, climber and tri-athlete who completed the Edinburgh marathon last year, became engaged to fellow athletics enthusiast Ian Pibworth in June and the couple were planning to return to his native Scotland.
She was a keen and experienced cyclist, who relished the opportunity her job gave her of cycling between clinics to visit patients.
In a recent post on Facebook, she wrote: “Today my job has required me to cycle through Regents Park, Hyde Park, Baker Street and Oxford Circus. Best job ever!”
Schoolfriend Natalie Sharpe told the Standard: “It’s so tragic. Steph’s sister passed away in September. Her poor family have had so much heartache.”
Turner, who grew up in Paignton, Devon, and graduated from Teeside University, had lived in the capital for several years and shared a house in Tottenham Hale with her fiance and a number of friends.
Sharpe said: “Steph and Ian had plans together for the future and were going to move but she delayed it because she loved living in London so much and riding from clinic to clinic. She was a real outdoors person, she did marathons, she swam, she cycled, she climbed mountains.
“When I found out last week I couldn’t believe it. It’s devastating. We had big plans for this year as a whole group of our school friends are turning 30. She referred to us as the ‘Devon girls’, she had so many friends from all over the place. We love her to bits. Everyone just loved her.
“She would walk into a room and without even trying everyone would be smiling. She could brighten up a room. She was naturally kind and funny. We would have crazy nights out and in. We are going to miss her, she was very precious.”
Many of her friends have paid tribute on Facebook, leaving a series of messages beneath a picture of Miss Turner posted by her fiance.
Rosa Parsons wrote: “Such a beautiful, warm and funny lady. So unfair.”
Jo Van Santen said: “Life can be so cruel. This world has lost an absolute angel.”
And Michelle Coles wrote: “There really aren’t enough words to describe what an amazing person Stephanie Turner was.
“She brightened up everyone’s lives who knew her and was like one of the sisters I never had. We love you mate and you will never ever be forgotten.”
Turner’s sister died at Torbay hospital in Devon on September 20. Her baby son Jay was stillborn.
The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene on Tuesday and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been bailed to return, pending further enquiries.
A vigil organised by campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists is taking place this evening at the junction of Amhurst Park and Seven Sisters Road where Miss Turner died.
lA motorcyclist has been killed in a crash with a Ford Focus in east London. Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident in Upper Rainham Road, with the junction of Sowrey Avenue, Romford, at 8.30pm on Monday night.
The rider, believed to be aged 24, was pronounced dead at the scene by London Ambulance Service paramedics.
The other vehicle, a blue five-door Ford Focus flipped over in the road. There were no reports of any other injuries and no arrests have been made. A post-mortem examination has been scheduled. Police await formal identification and next of kin have been informed.
Stephanie Turner with her fiancu00e9 Ian Pibworth.
