Tributes to cyclist who died after New Year’s Day collision

Tributes have been paid to a cyclist who lost her life after a New Year’s Day collision in Newcastle.

Laura Duncalfe was riding her bike when hit by a car on St Lawrence Road in the city centre at around 9:20 am on January 1.

Officers and emergency services attended the scene and took the 31-year-old to hospital with life threatening injuries.

Sadly, Laura lost her fight for life and passed away on January 23.

Paying tribute, her family said: “Laura was a wonderful partner, daughter and sister. She worked tirelessly for the benefit of others and lived her life courageously and to the full.

“She will be sorely missed by us all.”

Inspector Dean Hood, of Northumbria Police, and his team continue to support Laura’s family and loved ones.

He said: “Every death on our roads is always incredibly sad, but it is especially poignant when it involves somebody with their whole future ahead of them.

“We will continue to offer Laura’s family any support they need and would ask everyone to respect their privacy as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

“We are committed to finding out what happened in the moments immediately before this collision and would continue to ask any witnesses – or anybody with information that they think could assist our investigation – to get in touch.

“If you were travelling in the area at the time, and have yet to do so, please come forward and speak to us.”

A 29-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation as enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of their website or by calling 101 quoting reference NP-20220101-0599.