Pothole that caused serious cyclist crash not fixed

Cyclist Paul Hughes was left seriously injured after hitting a pothole

A former triathlete is suing a local authority after a bicycle crash caused by a pothole left him seriously injured.

Paul Hughes fears someone could die because of the crater on Sugar Loaf Lane, Stourbridge, which is yet to be repaired more than a year later.

He is still suffering from back pain after breaking his collarbone, ribs and pelvis when he was launched off his bike.

Staffordshire County Council, which is responsible for the road, said keeping highways in a good state of repair was an ongoing and costly challenge.

Mr Hughes, from Kidderminster, has been cycling since his early teens and previously took part in competitive events and charity rides.

Mr Hughes previously took part in competitive and charity events

But in October 2022, the 57-year-old was thrown from his specialist road bike while on a regular journey.

As well as multiple rib fractures, he suffered a pelvic fracture and spinal injuries.

Mr Hughes spent 10 days in hospital and two months in recovery before returning to his job as a groundsman.

He has since been made redundant, something he believes is down to being physically unable to work at the same speed.

He is now launching a personal injury claim against the local authority for compensation.

Mr Hughes spent 10 days in hospital

The cyclist has instructed Midlands law firm FBC Manby Bowdler.

Mr Hughes said the crash had taken his love out of cycling, adding he wanted to raise awareness of how bad some roads were.

"I want people to go out and be safe," he said.

Mr Hughes explained nothing had been done to repair the offending pothole, despite the fact he reported it while he was in hospital.

The area of road is yet to be fixed, Mr Hughes said

He urged the council to act, saying he feared people could die.

"I had a lot of injuries but it could have been a lot worse," he said. "If I didn't have a helmet on I wouldn't be here now."

David Williams, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said he was sorry to hear of the injuries sustained.

"Last year, we completed around 16,000 pothole jobs around the county, which often consist of two or three potholes," he said.

"All reported issues are inspected as soon as possible and assessed for their severity. We deal with any defect that poses an immediate risk as a priority."