Ben McPartland A YOUNG motorcyclist was killed in an horrific New Year's Eve road crash in Highgate. Emergency services rushed to Archway Road at around 8.15pm following reports that a car had collided with a motorbike near the junction with Muswell Hill

Ben McPartland

A YOUNG motorcyclist was killed in an horrific New Year's Eve road crash in Highgate.

Emergency services rushed to Archway Road at around 8.15pm following reports that a car had collided with a motorbike near the junction with Muswell Hill Road.

Tragically the 20-year-old rider, Jack Tungate from Sudbury in Suffolk, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The exact circumstances are still unclear but it is believed a Peugeot car travelling north collided with Mr Tungate, who was riding a motorbike south along Archway Road.

Two ambulances, paramedics and a doctor rushed to the scene but they were unable to save him. Police are now appealing for witnesses.

Tom Helliwell runs the Woodman pub on the junction between Archway Road and Muswell Hill Road.

He said: "The first thing we knew about the crash was when they closed the road. We went outside to see what had happened and saw paramedics trying to resuscitate a motorcyclist. But sadly we were later told he had died."

Friends and family of Mr Tungate have paid tribute to him on the social networking site Facebook.

In response his brother David wrote: "A big thank you to all the people who posted such nice things on his wall, it has given us some comfort in such a hard time."

Sadly New Years Eve's fatal road accident was not the first time someone has been killed on Archway Road. Several points on the road, one of the main arteries in and out of central London, have become accident black spots.

In 2005 a young student was killed not far from where Mr Tungate lost his life after being knocked over by a car as she tried to cross Archway Road.

In September last year the road was closed in both directions after a cyclist was seriously injured after colliding with a car.

Road safety campaigners urged Transport for London (TfL) to install a pedestrian crossing but those hopes were eventually dashed.

But TfL did fork out for parts of the road to be resurfaced with anti-skid material at junctions to make them safer for drivers.

The junction at Archway Road and Northwood Road by the Winchester pub has also been labelled a black spot after several crashes in the past, some involving motorcycles.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Highgate, Rachel Allison, said: "Residents have expressed concerns in the past about safety along Archway Road.

"There is a lot of concern over whether the traffic light sequences are properly timed and give people enough time to cross the road. They are also questions over whether the box junctions actually work."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit witness line on 0207 388 6806 or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

ben.mcpartland@hamhigh.co.uk