Shatha Ali died near Holborn station last March

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THE family of a cyclist who died in an accident at a dangerous junction has paid tribute to her as a gifted and generous woman on the anniversary of her death.

Shatha Ali, 39, died after a collision with a heavy goods vehicle close to Holborn tube station last March and a coroner’s inquest is set to investigate the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.

Speaking to the New Journal on the anniversary of her death, Shatha’s family said “something fundamentally needs to change” to improve cycle safety in High Holborn.

A talented lawyer, Shatha was the eighth cyclist to die in a collision in the area. In the aftermath of her death, the council and Transport for London announced a plan to create a new protected cycle lane and a separate traffic light system at the junction of High Holborn and Procter Street. Works are set to begin next month.

Shatha’s father Hasan Ali said: “I have been to see that place, and my understanding is there were so many similar accidents in that area, in that crossing, in Holborn. I’m not an expert in this, but the fact that there were so many accidents must mean there is something wrong.”

Ms Ali was on a career break at the time of the accident. She excelled at school, her father said, and was made a partner at Latham & Watkins law firm while still in her 30s.

Her father described her as a “generous” and “modest” woman, who despite her distinguished career continued to “drive a very old car” and would always have friends staying in her home.

“So many people had keys to her flat,” he said. “You’d be surprised that somebody who achieved that much is that modest.”

Mr Ali said his daughter loved travelling – she had been to New Zealand, South Africa, and the “Far East” as well as travelling widely for work – and was popular with a large group of friends.

“The most painful thing that can ever happen to any human being is the loss of a child… I was not prepared for this,” he said. “Even after one year, it is too difficult a wound in my mind. It is very difficult to heal.”

Shatha’s younger sister Noor Ali said: “An anniversary I think is significant, but at the same time, it also feels like it’s just another day without her.”

The scene of the collision last March [Simon Lamrock]

As the first-born child, Shatha “was very much the eldest,” Ms Ali said. “She was the most responsible, the one that you most turned to. She always was the kind of one that had your back. She was really friendly, really approachable, really down to earth – there were loads of things about her achievements that I didn’t know until after she died.”

The siblings were very close and had many “running jokes”, and would go travelling, hiking and cycling together.

Ms Ali said: “Her loss is just so felt. If I ever used to think about the future… I always thought that my siblings would be there till the end. “The future feels daunting without her. I’m missing something absolutely huge in my life,” she said.

A doctor like her father, Ms Ali said: “When there are significant events that happen in medicine, you want to think about what systems can change to prevent these from happening again.

Something needs to change – obviously Shatha’s inquest has not happened yet so I can’t specifically comment on that incident alone – but if you’ve got [that many] people dying at a junction or in a specific area, it’s not a coincidence. Something fundamentally needs to change. And it’s one of those things where the solution can’t just be, ‘cyclists have to be more careful, drivers have to be more careful’.”

Camden’s sustainability chief Labour councillor Adam Harrison said: “It has been just over a year since the tragic death of Shatha Ali. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, as well as those of other cyclists who have died on the roads.

“We and Transport for London have been working at pace over the last year on major changes to the Holborn area, including the area of High Holborn and Procter Street.

“Following a public consultation in October 2022, cabinet approved the proposals in December 2022, hearing deputations from many who rightly demanded changes be made to improve safety, including friends of Shatha.

“Preliminary works for these improvements will begin in April, ahead of construction work in the summer.”

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