Tributes paid to Leeds academic who was killed by car involved in police chase

Dr Andrew Platten was involved in a road accident on Tuesday.

Tributes have been paid to Dr Andrew Platten, who worked in construction, lectured and established business and research links through his role as chair of the Centre for Knowledge Exchange enterprise hub based at Leeds Beckett University.

The 55-year-old was knocked from his bike by a silver Vauxhall Vectra in Cottingley Cliffe Road, Bingley, on Tuesday just before 7.35pm, after the driver had sped from police officers who had tried to stop the vehicle. Dr Platten died at the scene.

A statement released by Dr Platten’s family read: “Andrew excelled as a respected and dedicated academic, with a love for art, poetry and music. For anyone that knew him, cycling was his true passion as he became a recognised competitive rider on the roads.

“Most importantly he was a loved friend, loyal brother and uncle, loving partner and a truly inspirational father. He will be deeply missed, but he has left his stamp on all who met him. He will always be cherished and never forgotten, living on in all our hearts.”

Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, pro vice chancellor at Leeds Beckett, said: “He was a very experienced construction sector professional, but he remained committed to research and teaching, sharing his expertise with the construction professionals of the future.”

Dr Platten was active in a number of business networks regionally, he worked in construction and lectured at Leeds Beckett while helping the university to develop international links in countries like Hong Kong and Mauritius. He also wrote more than 45 academic papers in his field.

Professor Peter Slee, vice chancellor at Leeds Beckett, added: “Andrew was a very well respected senior colleague at our University with a passion for higher education, teaching, research and engagement with the construction industry. All of us at Leeds Beckett University are very saddened by his death.”

West Yorkshire Police arrested the driver of the car involved in Tuesday’s incident on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving earlier this week.

Witnesses should call 101, quoting log 1743 of July 19.