Electric unicycle rider unable to slow before fatal crash

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 08:43 · Archive

A 46-year-old electric unicycle rider died after being unable to slow for stationary traffic.

Benjamin Franklin Wells-Lane, 46, died on July 3 after being involved in a collision while riding an electric unicycle. An inquest into his death heard that he was unable to slow down his vehicle when approaching stationary traffic.

Mr Wells-Lane had moved to Poole with his wife, Patrisha, in January 2025, having been born in Utah. He died the day after their second wedding anniversary. His wife described him as a kind and caring man with an infectious smile.

In a statement read to the inquest, Mrs Wells-Lane said her husband was passionate about making the world a better place. He preferred to walk or use his unicycle to travel around the area, believing this was better for the environment and would help reduce traffic congestion. He disliked cars and would try to avoid the Wessex Way dual carriageway despite it being a registered bike route.

Mrs Wells-Lane told the court: 'He was truly one hundred per cent happy with his life, for the first time in his life. It will never be okay that we lost so many years that we could have had together.'

How it is being reported

• Electric unicycle rider unable to slow for standstill traffic before fatal crashAn electric unicycle rider, described as a 'kind' and 'caring' man with the 'most infectious smile', died after he was unable to slow down his vehicle when approaching standstill traffic, an inquest has heard.Dorset Echo · 10 Oct, 08:09
• Electric unicycle rider unable to slow for standstill traffic before fatal crashAn electric unicycle rider, described as a 'kind' and 'caring' man with the 'most infectious smile', died after he was unable to slow down his vehicle when approaching standstill traffic, an inquest has heard.Bournemouth Echo · 10 Oct, 00:00

In this story: Benjamin Franklin Wells-Lane · Patrisha Wells-Lane · Poole · Utah · Wessex Way

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem