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Islington Tribune by - ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 19 September 2008

How many people have to die? asks eye-witness

WHEN Simo Maronati got off her bike to see what the commotion was in Holloway Road last Monday, the sight of Lisa Pontecorvo’s accident brought back too many painful memories.
Ms Maronati, a former bicycle courier, was the victim of an accident several years ago which left her permanently disabled. Two years ago this week, one of her closest friends was killed by a truck in Hackney.
Of the accident in which Ms Pontecorvo died, she said: “I was behind the truck. I rushed to the front and someone else was kneeling next to her. I’m so glad there was someone there to comfort her in her dying moments. It just brought back all the memories of my dear friend that died. She was a cyclist and she was hit by a truck.”
Ms Maronati called for lorries to be made safer. “I can’t believe they still make these monsters without mirrors to show what’s in front of their wheels,” she said.
“I nearly ended up under a truck myself. I was in front of him and I presumed he could see me. Someone grabbed me and my bike went under the wheels.
“I go through that terrible junction all the time. When is it going to end? How many people have to die?”
Ms Maronati said of her own accident: “I was run over by a drunk driver in Drayton Park. My right foot doesn’t work any more. I have to use a splint.
“I’m so lucky I didn’t die. My shoulder, pelvis, leg and neck were broken. I was in hospital for four months. But bicycles are my passion and it took me five years to get back on my bike.”

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