Tributes are being paid to Benjamin Franklin Wells-Lane, 46, who died in a collision while riding an electric unicycle on a busy road in Dorset, England. The incident occurred on the A338 Wessex Way in Bournemouth around 4 p.m. on Friday.
Emergency services responded to the scene between Bournemouth West Roundabout and Richmond Hill Roundabout, but Wells-Lane was pronounced dead. Originally from Utah, he had relocated to Poole, Dorset, with his wife in January 2025.
His wife described him as her "giant," noting his kindness and caring nature. "Ben was the kindest and most caring person I have ever met. He would do anything for people he cared about," she stated in a release from Dorset Police. "He was my giant. Standing 6ft4in to my 5ft4in I mean that both literally and figuratively. There were no obstacles I could not face with him at my side."
She further shared her surprise at the outpouring of support from both his close friends and acquaintances he had not formally met. "Even people who never formally met him have expressed sadness at his death - a giant, white-bearded man on a unicycle with the most infectious of smiles does make for quite the memory," she added. Wells-Lane also volunteered weekly with the Dorset Wildlife Trust on Brownsea Island and worked as a handyman.
In the United Kingdom, electric unicycles (EUCs) are classified as powered transporters. These devices, which are self-balanced with a single motorized wheel between two foot platforms, are illegal to ride on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or pedestrian areas under current legislation. Their legal use is restricted to private land with the landowner's permission.
Sergeant Dave Cotterill of the Roads Policing Team stated that his thoughts were with the family and loved ones of Wells-Lane. "We are carrying out a detailed investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened and I am keen to speak with any witnesses who have not already had contact with police," Cotterill said. He also urged motorists with dashcam footage from the vicinity at the time of the incident to check their recordings for any potentially helpful information.