A CYCLIST airlifted to hospital following a crash with a lorry on the A38 yesterday has died.
The 58-year-old man, who has not been named by police, was described as living locally.
Police said last night that a lorry driver had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the collision.
A police statement said: "Tragically the pedal cyclist, a 58 year old local male, has died at Derriford Hospital as a result of his injuries.
"The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody at Charles Cross Police Station.
"A detailed investigation was carried out at the scene by Police Collision Investigators and staff from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency."
An ambulance spokesperson added: "We were called at 10.51am to the collision involving a cyclist and a vehicle. CPR was carried out at the scene to a male."
The Exeter-bound carriageway was entirely shut for nearly five hours with traffic coming to a standstill in the Plympton area, with tailbacks lasting long into the night.
Police said the incident happened between the Plympton and Lee Mill junctions heading eastbound at about 10.50am.
Police, paramedics and the air ambulance attended and the cyclist was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Derriford Hospital with serious injuries.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The lorry driver, a man in his early 40s, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and remains in custody at Charles Cross police Station."
Righton, a metals and plastic supplier, confirmed one of its lorries was involved in the crash. However, the company was still waiting to hear from police whether it was their employee who was arrested at the scene. "We have contacted the police and they said they would come back to us," said a Righton spokesman.
"We know a cyclist was involved and our thoughts are with them and their family."
All three lanes Exeter-bound were shut to allow the air ambulance to land.
The roads around Lee Mill and Smithaleigh were said to be "gridlocked", with queues tailing back to Marsh Mills roundabout and some drivers saying they were stuck for more than two hours.
One lane was reopened on the eastbound carriageway before 4pm but delays were still being reported until 6pm.
The collision also caused problems for bus services, with Plymouth City Bus reporting delays to services in the area.
One driver was spotted apparently driving the wrong way down the A38 in an attempt to dodge queuing traffic following the serious crash.
Shocked onlooker Carla Wilkinson said: "He got to the bridge, didn't want to queue, so did a three-point turn, dodged the cars then headed [the other way]."
