Team Sky's Fran Millar wins damages over pothole crash

Council settles with Millar who fractured cheek, jaw and fingers

Published: September 20, 2013 at 12:45 pm

Team Sky's head of business operations Fran Millar has been paid damages for injuries sustained after hitting a pothole more than three years ago.

Millar, sister of Garmin-Sharp pro David Millar, received the undisclosed amount from Oldham Council following the incident in May 2010.

According to a BBC report today, Millar swerved to avoid one pothole only to hit a another and was knocked off her bike on High Street, Oldham in Greater Manchester. The crash left her with fractures to her cheek, jaw and fingers and knocked out several teeth.

Millar, who has ridden a number of sportives said: "I feel extremely lucky to be back on my bike again with both my physical and mental scars healed or healing.

"A crash like this happens so suddenly it can shake your entire confidence on the bike," she added.

Penny Knight, from law firm Leigh Day said: "It was clear that the damage to the road, which caused this crash, was a result of poor resurfacing after the road had been dug up by the council for works to underground pipes."

Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council's cabinet member for environment, added: "There is a national pothole funding crisis – Oldham is no different."

Local authorities or the Highways Agency are obligated to inspect road defects when brought to their attention by the public. Cycling Charity CTC operates the Fill the Hole mobile app service, which allows the public to geo-locate potholes and automatically notify the correct local authority.