A ‘LOVING lad in the prime of his life’ died when he was hit by a lorry cycling home from work wearing no reflective clothing or lights on a dark, wet November night, an inquest heard.

Robert Shaul was almost invisible to drivers along the A403 when he left his new job at Burger King at Aust services to cycle home to Vine Farm caravan park in Pilning on November 3, police told the court on Friday (March 11).

Collision investigator PC Richard Hignett said except for a sticker on the rear of his bike, the 20-year-old cyclist would not easily have been seen.

“There were no lights on the bike and Mr Shaul presented drivers with very little visual clues to his position on the road,” said PC Hignett.

“There was no contrast, making it very difficult for drivers to see him.”

In a statement read to the court, Farm Foods delivery driver Francis Hold said he thought his lorry had hit a deer or a horse and carried on to the company’s depot a few minutes away in Avonmouth. He said he had no idea it was a person until he returned to the scene later that evening.

“Before reaching the single carriageway section of the road, I recall my attention being drawn to a car oncoming which had its full beam headlights and fog lights on,” he said. “In the next split second I heard a bang.

“It was just a sound rather than a force and I had not seen anything in front of me before it happened.

“Given the weather conditions I didn’t think it was safe to pull over at that time.”

When he inspected the vehicle back at the depot, Mr Hold found significant damage and asked his manager to take him back to the A403.

“I was in a state of panic when I saw blue emergency lights,” he said. “I couldn’t understand what had happened.

“I think about it over and over again. I am utterly devastated that Robert Shaul died and all my thoughts are with his family. This will never leave me.”

Several other drivers on the A403 that night reported narrowly missing Mr Shaul shortly before he was hit.

Mervin Reeves was on his was home from work when he saw a man and a bike near the Aust junction.

“Due to the darkness his presence caught me completely by surprise,” said Mr Reeves in a written statement. “I thought to myself what is he doing there? It was very hard to see him in the darkness.”

Morris Vowles, who was on his way to watch Bristol City play at Ashton Gate, said a cyclist appeared ‘out of the darkness’.

A statement said: “I was driving at 40mph due to the weather conditions when I was suddenly aware of something on my nearside which caused me to swerve out in the middle of the road to avoid it.

“The bike had no rear lights and I couldn’t see any on the front. The bike was dark in colour and the cyclist was wearing dark clothing and the lack of lighting did not help.”

Shortly after 6.30pm, lorry driver Ian Price was heading north on the A403 with his lights on full beam when he saw what he thought was a lady’s shopping bag in the carriageway.

“I looked to my right and saw a person lying in the road,” he said. “I thought to myself I hope that isn’t what I think it is.

“I stopped and ran back, I spoke but got no response. He appeared to be unconscious and there no signs of life.”

Mr Shaul, who was raised in Thornbury and went to Crossways and Marlwood schools, was declared dead at the scene. A post mortem found he died of multiple injuries.

Recording a verdict of road traffic collision, assistant coroner Dr Simon Fox said as well as being dazzled by another car’s lights, Mr Hold also had the windscreen wipers on his lorry to contend with.

He added: “There were a number of factors operating to make it extremely difficult for Mr Hold to see Robert Shaul as he was approaching.”

Mr Shaul’s parents Dave and Sue and sister Chantelle, who did not attend the inquest, said shortly after his death he helped anyone who needed it. His father described him as ‘a strong character and a pleasant young man, with a heart of gold and a beautiful smile’.