Tractor driver accused of cyclist death a year after accident is acquitted
Robin Williams
A TRACTOR driver who admitted careless driving when a cyclist was left paralysed, has been acquitted of causing his death.
Robin Williams, aged 31, pleaded guilty to careless driving after keen cyclist John Cole, aged 62, suffered serious injuries while cycling on a gated road between West Haddon and Guilsborough in January 2009. In July 2009, Mr Williams was fined and had five points put on his licence.
Mr Cole was left a quadriplegic, having suffered a fractured pelvis and ankle as well as two fractured vertebrae.
But he died almost a year later – on Boxing Day 2009 – from pneumonia which Home Office pathologist Professor Guy Rutty said was as a direct result of his injuries. Northampton Crown Court heard that as Mr Williams had already been convicted of careless driving, the Attorney General had to grant permission for him to be prosecuted with causing Mr Cole’s death by careless driving, a year after he was paralysed.
Mr Williams, of Welford Road, Thornby, pleaded not guilty and a jury yesterday unanimously acquitted him of the more serious charge.
Giving evidence, he said he could not be sure whether he had struck Mr Cole but had felt a “bump or a judder” while driving the seven-tonne vehicle.
He said: “I believed at the time I had hit the front wheel of the bike. I tried ringing for an ambulance but I could not get a signal where I was so I ran to the next house and asked them to call. I ran back to the scene, very shook up, confused.”
Anthony Metzer, defending, said: “Did you have any awareness or knowledge about a person on any vehicle before the bump?”
Mr Williams said: “No. I felt I was driving with good standards, with competence.”
Mr Metzer added: “Obviously, you know Mr Cole sadly suffered very serious consequences, for some reason. How does that make you feel? Was there anything in your driving that you could have done differently?”
Mr Williams said: “I feel very sorry for his family and upset at what happened. In terms of my driving, no, I’d not really do anything different.”
Matthew Lowe, prosecuting, had told the jury: “You will hear from a defence pathologist who will assert Mr Cole’s death is unconnected to what happened and the injuries sustained. That is one of the central issues you will have to consider.”
Mr Williams declined to comment on leaving court.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
lady muck
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 05:34 PMOne would need to be a lawyer to comprehend this...although the subsequent death was not directly caused by his injuries, pneumonia is a well-known consequence of immobility.
Taffman
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10:40 PMHmm! A very fortunate young man. i trust he sleeps well.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.