Environmentalist killed in crash after bike app sent him down dual carriageway on his electric unicycle

An environmentalist riding an electric unicycle was killed after a bike app sent him down a busy dual carriageway and he crashed into a lamppost, an inquest heard.

Benjamin Wells-Lane, 46, was riding the illegal stand-up device on a 40mph stretch of the A338 in Bournemouth, Dorset, when traffic ground to a halt in front of him. 

Realising he wouldn't be able to stop in time he swerved left and collided with a lamppost.

Emergency services attended and carried out CPR but Mr Wells-Lane was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest heard the self-balancing electric unicycle he was riding was illegal to use on British roads.

His widow Patrisha said her husband, who worked as a handyman, hated cars and loved that he could walk, or use his unicycle, to get to most places.

She said he believed it was better for the environment and traffic congestion.

Mrs Wells-Lane said the bike apps her husband used would often direct him onto the A338.

She said her husband was a 'safety conscious rider', always equipped with a helmet, protective clothing and high-vis jacket.

She said: 'He was a skilled and well-practiced rider. I believe the [A338] should not be marked as a bike route.

'There was nothing that could've controlled it, no safety gear that could've prevented injury.'

The inquest heard he had left Richmond Hill roundabout and started travelling westbound on the A338 just before 4pm on July 3.

But he faced standstill traffic almost as soon as he joined from the slip road.

Sergeant Burt, of Dorset Police traffic unit, said: 'He attempted to slow when coming off the slip road and collided with a lamp post.'

Sergeant Burt said the traffic jam had been caused by a van driver stopping in the carriageway and getting out to retrieve an item.

Vehicles behind the van then began to slow down and come to a standstill. 

A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of bleeding from traumatic aortic injury. 

Coroner Richard Middleton, assistant coroner for Dorset, recorded a verdict that Mr Wells-Lane died of road traffic collision.

Mr Wells-Lane, who was born in Utah, had moved to Poole with his wife, Patrisha, in January of 2025. He died the day after their second wedding anniversary.

Paying tribute to her husband she said: 'He was truly one hundred percent happy with his life, for the first time in his life.

'We never took each other for granted. We were partners in every way.

'It will never be okay that we lost so many years that we could have had together.'

'He was very passionate about making the world a better place.'

A memorial bench has been installed in tribute to Mr Wells-Lane on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour which was one of his favourite places and where he volunteered for the Dorset Wildlife Trust.