Courier driver, 49, who killed a Team GB triathlete when he smashed into the back of her bike thought the ‘bump’ he heard was the sound of a parcel falling in his van, court told
- Vasile Barbu thought the sound of hitting a cyclist was a parcel falling in his van
- The 49-year-old fatally hit triathlete Rebecca Comins, 52, in South Wales in 2022
- Cardiff Crown Court heard the mother-of-two was racing on a clear sunny day
A killer courier heard a ‘bump’ when he hit a Team GB[2] triathlete from behind but thought it was the sound of a parcel falling in his van, a court heard.
Delivery driver Vasile Barbu, 49, told police he had no idea he had ploughed into mother-of-two Rebecca Comins[3], 52, when she was on a cycle in South Wales.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Mrs Comins was taking part in a time trial cycling race on a clear sunny day and had a bright flashing light attached to her bike when she was sent flying into the air on June 2, 2022, before dying at the scene.
Barbu, who runs a restaurant alongside his delivery business, allegedly failed to manoeuvre around the champion sportswoman despite the outside lane of the dual carriageway being empty.
He told police he saw Mrs Comins for ‘seconds’ before moving around her and saying he gave an estimated one metre gap.
Killer courier Vasile Barbu (seen), 49, thought the sound of hitting a cyclist was a parcel falling in the back his van
Team GB triathlete Rebecca Comins, 52, died at the scene on the A40 near Raglan, South Wales, on June 2, 2022
Barbu told police he had no idea he had ploughed into the mother-of-two saying he gave an estimated one metre gap when he moved around her
Barbu said: ‘I heard a knock but I didn’t think I’d hit her.’
He then pulled over and found her lying injured on the floor ‘breathing hard’.
‘I was asking her, “Are you ok? Are you hurt? What is your name?”‘ he added.
The court heard there were warning signs in place due to the time trial event and other participants were on the road when the tragedy happened.
Cyclists set off at one minute intervals along the A40 dual carriageway near Raglan, Gwent, in the event organised by local club Monmouthshire Wheelers.
Another competitor recalled how moments before the fatal collision Barbu passed so close to his bike he was ‘buzzed’ by the white Vauxhall Movano van and the wind turbulence caused him to wobble across the road.
Barbu was unable to explain how the collision took place and told police he saw Mrs Comins and gave a two-metre gap moments before the crash.
He accepted he must have collided with her and admitted causing death by careless driving – which comes with a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
But Cardiff Crown Court heard his ‘devastating and catastrophic failure’ to move out of the way amounted to death by dangerous driving, which he denies.
He accepted he must have collided with her and admitted causing death by careless driving – which comes with a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment – but denies causing death by dangerous driving, which has a longer maximum sentence
Prosecutor James Wilson said: ‘This was not a momentary misjudgement or lack of concentration. From the road and the weather conditions and how conspicuous she would have been, the defendant’s failure to avoid colliding into the back of Mrs Comins was a gross, catastrophic failure which amounted to dangerous driving’
Prosecutor James Wilson said: ‘Rebecca Comins was there to be seen. Visibility was good, she was cycling with a bright rear light so was clearly obvious to other witnesses.
‘Her presence on that road was not unexpected. Barbu would have seen the road signs for the cycling event taking place and would have passed other similar cyclists before he reached Mrs Comins.
‘She was cycling in a proper manner and correctly positioned on the road. She was on a long, straight stretch of road with plenty of time for him to see her.
‘Further he had space in the outside lane to move into and safely manoeuvre around her and to avoid colliding. He instead directly hit Mrs Comins from behind.
‘This was not a momentary misjudgement or lack of concentration. From the road and the weather conditions and how conspicuous she would have been, the defendant’s failure to avoid colliding into the back of Mrs Comins was a gross, catastrophic failure which amounted to dangerous driving.
‘His dangerous driving caused the death of Mrs Comins.’
Romanian-born Barbu, of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving – which has a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. The jury retired to consider their verdict earlier today.
Tributes were paid to Rebecca, known as Becky, who was the Vintage Veteran Champion of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series at the time of her death and had represented Wales the weekend before the crash.
Mrs Comins, ‘Becky’, was a member of the Dragon Tri Club, Newport Phoenix Cycling Club and Caldicot Running Club
Mrs Comins was the Vintage Veteran Champion of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series at the time of her death and had represented Wales the weekend before the crash
In a statement, Welsh Triathlon said: ‘Becky was a fierce competitor, but with it had a positivity and energy that was infectious.
‘Becky was a multiple Ironman Wales finisher and also represented the Great Britain Age Group Team at the European Championships in Tartu 2018, as well as at the World Championships in Lausanne in 2019, finishing competitively in both.
‘She loved the sport; she loved the training and Becky was central to any social activities across her clubs.
‘Becky will be sadly missed by everyone within our triathlon community, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Becky’s family, Steve, George and Millie and her wider friends at this sad time.’
Becky was a member of the Dragon Tri Club, Newport Phoenix Cycling Club and Caldicot Running Club.
References
- ^ Matthew Cox (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Team GB (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ told police he had no idea he had ploughed into mother-of-two Rebecca Comins (www.dailymail.co.uk)