Careless van driver seriously injured cyclist in A595 crash
The experienced bike rider was heading home from work at Sellafield, on 5th November last year, and was using a stretch of the A595 in the area of Moor Row which was very familiar to him. Carlisle[1] Magistrates' Court heard that he was wearing a helmet, had safety equipment and was displaying flashing lights. As he approached a junction for St Bees at 25-30mph, a Stagecoach bus pulled to a stop, creating a gap in a line of traffic.
At that moment, Mercedes Citan van driver Marvin Watson, aged 62, emerged from a side road. Despite the cyclist's attempts to swerve to the right, he was catapulted over the van and flung from his GBP4,500 bike, which was destroyed. Passengers got off the bus and went to help.
Watson also approached, telling the rider: "I didn't see you." The victim -- a cyclist since the age of 12 -- was transported to hospital having suffered serious injuries which included a badly bruised thigh and what transpired to be a severely broken wrist. He underwent surgery in hospital and, in a number of statements, detailed the immense impact on his daily life since the incident.
He was initially unable to dress and wash himself, found basic tasks such as using cutlery difficult, and this had placed what he said was a "considerable burden" on his wife. He walked with a limp, underwent physiotherapy sessions and attended numerous hospital appointments. He was off work for a spell before returning to light duties, was latterly able to cycle for short periods but remained unable to play golf.
"Overall the injuries have impacted on every aspect of my daily life," he stated. Watson -- who, the court heard, had not driven since the incident -- was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving. Defence lawyer Chris Toms, mitigating, said of the collision: "Quite clearly this is a moment of inattention.
He did not intend any of this. He is an otherwise hard-working citizen who found himself wanting when it came to needing to concentrate. It has had this tragic result."
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order.
Watson, of Aglionby Street, Carlisle, must complete 100 hours' unpaid work, and serve a year-long driving disqualification.