Drink-driver in van killed cyclist while using two phones at the wheel
Robert Heyes told police he thought he'd hit a bird
15:23, 07 May 2025
Jailed: Robert Heyes(Image: GMP/Cavendish Press)A van driver got drunk and killed a cyclist while using two mobile phones at the wheel, a court heard. When quizzed by police later, Robert Heyes told officers he thought he'd hit a bird. He's now been jailed for more than 11 years.
Heyes, 38, had been drinking vodka and playing his in-car stereo at virtually full blast when he hit Keith Brady as he drove his work's Citroen Berlingo van to a garage for a service.
As Mr Brady, 41, lay dying on the road, father-of-three Heyes drove away with a cracked windscreen and told staff at the garage vandals had thrown a brick at the van.
Mr Brady, who had just got himself a job and a flat, suffered fatal head injuries and a fractured spine and ribs. He sadly died in hospital two days later. Police arrested Heyes, from Horwich, Bolton[1], after witnesses noted the logo on his van, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Officers went on to discover he had a history of drink-driving.
The court heard he had been using WhatsApp to make and field messages and was surfing the internet at the time of the impact.
He conducted online searches for news of the collision in the aftermath and told a friend in a text message: "'I am going to prison, mate. I've knocked someone over.'' Following the fatal accident, he was released on bail - only to be caught drunk behind the wheel of his van with his son in the passenger seat.
Heyes admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for a total of 11 years and two months.
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Police at the scene(Image: Manchester Evening News)The court heard he was arrested in May 2020 after he drove his works van into a ditch whilst under the influence of alcohol in the Burnley area. He was subsequently charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath, but failed to attend court in August of that year and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Heyes was on the run for more than two years before he was re-arrested in September, 2022.
But the court heard he was bailed again due to an 'administration error' when he should have been in court later that day. A fresh warrant had to be issued.
The tragedy occurred at 4.08pm on October 17, 2022 on the A673 Chorley New Road in Bolton. Rob Hall, prosecuting, said: ''It is regrettable that at the time of the dangerous driving that killed Mr Brady, the defendant was wanted on a warrant without bail.
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''His Apple Car Play hands-free was connected with his work iPhone 7 and he was in possession of his personal Samsung mobile phone.
Data from the handset shows that it was being activated by hand. There was a use of the WhatsApp application on the works phone and Safari Internet browser.
"The Samsung mobile phone received a Facebook message and there were other mobile phone applications and message applications used.
"Rather significantly that at the time of the collision, Mr Heyes was using the messaging application on the screen on his phone. For a period of 33 seconds the phone appears to be continued in use after the collision took place.
Chorley New Road(Image: Manchester Evening News)"Mr Brady was on the near side yellow lines, right on the periphery of the eastbound carriageway and the defendant's van was immediately behind him.
The front near side of the van collided with and the rear of the bicycle collided, propelling Mr Brady back onto the nearside bonnet and his head hit the windscreen. Sadly he was not wearing a cycle helmet.''
Factory worker Mr Brady was taken to Salford[3] Royal Hospital by air ambulance but efforts to save him were in vain. Mr Hall added: "The defendant simply drove on without any thought of what he had just collided with despite the obvious smash to the near side windscreen.
Neither did he make any attempt to call emergency services."
An empty bottle of vodka and a bottle of water were found in a plastic bag under the van at the garage, the court heard. The court heard Heyes, who got his driving licence at 18 in 2005, had convictions for being drunk and disorderly, drunk in charge of a vehicle and harassment.
In November 2023 - a year after the fatal crash - he was given a community order and 100 hours of unpaid work after being caught three times the alcohol limit whilst driving near Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool with his son in the van. Police said he was so drunk he struggled to get out of the vehicle.
In a victim statement Mr Brady's father, Gary Brady, said of his son: "He had suffered from mental health issues most of his adult life, but recently started to make terrific progress and his social interaction improved dramatically.
He had a job and he was looking forward to Christmas[4] for the first time in a long time.
"I do not believe I will ever be able to think of Keith again without thinking that afternoon in 2022.''
Article continues belowRick Holland, defending Heyes, said: ''The defendant has been beset by many problems in relation with alcohol and these problems were exacerbated around this time because his uncle had died in May of that year and a friend took his own life live on Facebook. He had also been warned that his unborn child would need open-heart surgery. He was working but plainly drink had a considerable grip on him.''
Heyes will be banned from driving for eight years following his release from custody.
Judge Abigail Hudson told him: "Your record shows a complete disregard for the safety of other road users.
But even having hit Mr Brady and when you clearly were aware you had at least gravely injured another human being, you yet again used your phone to access a search engine whilst driving your vehicle.
"It is clear that you were intoxicated on the day of this incident but the level of intoxication cannot be proven because of your decision to leave the scene and thereafter refuse to provide a specimen for testing."