2013-07-25 - Rider down/Fatality, Avonmouth

The incident occurred on the A403 St Andrews Road/Kingsweston Lane at around 7pm.

A male cyclist was in collision with a lorry and died at the scene.

The driver of the lorry, a 37-year-old man, has been arrested and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=27794&t=1&lid=1

Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP, condolences to family and friends.

Lorry driver sentenced.

April 23 (Press Association) -- A speeding lorry driver who knocked down and killed a cyclist on his 31st birthday was today jailed for 14 months.

  Colin Woolgar, 38, was at the end of a 12 hour shift when he mowed down David Moore in his 7.5-tonne lorry. Delivery driver Woolgar had only had four hours' sleep and was returning to Bristol from Torquay in Devon when he killed Mr Moore on St Andrew's Road, Avonmouth, Bristol last July.
  Bristol Crown Court heard that Mr Moore, who was riding a battery-powered bike, crossed a pedestrian crossing on red. And despite Woolgar, who was returning to his depot, having the right of way he was found to be travelling at 51mph in a 40mph zone when the crash occurred.
  The churchgoer did not see Mr Moore until it was too late and despite slamming on his brakes was unable to avoid the collision.
  Mr Moore was riding home to Shirehampton from his forklift driving job at the Accolade Wine warehouse in Avonmouth when the collision occurred at about 

7pm on July 25.

  The court heard that Woolgar had been using his mobile phone to send and receive text messages and calls throughout the day despite being told by colleagues not to do so.
  Prosecutor Rupert Lowe told the court that Tony Kirwan and Luke Davey were travelling with Woolgar that day making deliveries of furniture and described his driving as "poor" and "unimpressive".
  "Luke Davey said Colin Woolgar was messing with his phone all day and if he wasn't using it, he was looking at it down on his lap," Mr Lowe said. "It was apparent during the journey he was texting on his mobile phone and on one occasion clipped the kerb.
  "On another occasion he drifted across the lane causing another motorist to sound his horn, so Mr Kirwan said you have got to stop using your phone and the impression was that he continued to use his phone surreptitiously so that Mr Kirwan could not see it.
  "Mr Davey thought he was rushing to get back home to play skittles and felt he was in a hurry when the collision happened.

14 months???????

"The churchgoer" speeding, using his mobile, driving on 4hrs sleep..

14 months???????

The quoted article is unhelpful in not detailing what the actual conviction is for. Again this is likely to be a case where sentencing is constricted based on the charge presented in court. I'm inclined to think that, as is often the case, the failing has come much earlier in the chain of the criminal and judicial process. Prosecuting a lesser charge against a higher likelihood of an actual conviction in court.

very sad, "rushing to get back home to play skittles" !