A cyclist has been killed in a collision with a waste lorry in London this morning.

The accident happened at Ludgate Circus, where Fleet Street meets Farringdon Street. London Ambulance Service confirmed that the male cyclist died at the scene. The Times has reported that the truck driver has now been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Eyewitness reports on Twitter said:

“guy on bike gets pulled under a waste truck as they leave the lights, we were on other side waiting to cross” [source]

“tbh the cyclist was on the phone but underneath the lorrys near side mirror as they pulled away” [source]

“Watching the paramedics just stand around when they arrived was awful. The poor guy must have been obviously past help.” [source]

Early suggestions are that the lorry was turning left at the junction. The rider is believed to have been an experienced cyclist who worked as a bike messenger. The accident is the third cycling death in London this year, and the first to involve an HGV.

The campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists this week condemned London boroughs for failing to install more protected cycle lanes. It said that only three boroughs have built segregated lanes since the 2010 local elections (Ealing, Camden and Waltham Forest), while 24 have not. Co-organiser Donnachadh McCarthy said:

“Every one of the 54 cyclists killed on London’s roads over the last four years is a tragedy. It is also important to note the literally thousands of other deaths from the London boroughs’ failure to provide a safe, unpolluted cycling and walking environment. Londoners should ask every candidate in May’s local and European elections if they will support 10% of their transport budget to be spent on segregated cycle lanes.”

Ashok Sinha, chief executive of London Cycling Campaign, agreed:

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the person who died today. It is not acceptable that Londoners making normal everyday journeys by bike must contend with the dangers of major junctions that provide no protected space for cycling. We don't know the circumstances of this particular death, but we know our transport authorities can and must take action to redesign our streets in a way that minimises the risk of harm to people who walk and cycle.”