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Updated: Driver in Simon Richardson case found guilty of dangerous driving

Van driver who failed to stop had already admitted charges relating to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident

A jury in South Wales has found the driver of the van that struck and seriously injured Paralympic cycling champion Simon Richardson in August last year guilty of dangerous driving. During the trial this week, Newport Crown Court had heard how farmer Edward Adams had admitted driving while drunk and failing to stop after an accident, reports BBC Wales News.

The incident happened on the A48 near Bridgend on 11 August 2011 and left Richardson in a coma for three weeks and ended his dreams of defending the two Paralympic titles he won at Beijing in 2008. The 44-year-old was on a training ride as part of his preparations to try and qualify for London 2012.

Jane Rowley, on behalf of the prosecution, told the court that not only was Adams was two times over the legal drink drive limit, but also that even when wearing the glasses he uses for driving, he was unable to read a number plate from a distance of four metres, and could only read part of one from two metres.

The Highway Code stipulates that in good daylight, a driver must be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres.

She also said that Adams had tried to conceal his van at his farm but it was found with the assistance of a police helicopter and when examined had a damaged wing and windscreen.

In a statement, witness Gordon Broomfield revealed that he had overtaken both Adams’ van and Richardson prior to the incident.

He described how he checked his rear view mirror expecting the van to pull out to overtake the cyclist then “looked in disbelief” as it struck Richardson, hurling him into the air.

He said that he tried to force the van to pull over, but it drove away from the scene, whereupon he himself stopped and called the emergency services.

The jury was informed that Adams has told police when they interviewed him that he had begun drinking whisky at 6am that morning when he woke up. He said that he had been aware of a car overtaking him, but claimed to have been blinded by sunlight when the incident happened.

He attributed the collision with Richardson to his having hit a sheep, and claimed that was why he did not stop. He stated that the incident had left him shaken and he had continued to drink whisky when he returned home, adding that he was sorry for having hit someone with his van.

Last August’s incident is the second time that Richardson has received serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle while cycling.
In 2001, he was hit by a car while out on a club run, the incident leaving him with no feeling on the left-hand side of his body.

On medical advice, he started cycling again and within a year was racing for Wales on an adapted bicycle that was powered by his right leg.

At the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, he won a gold medal in the LC 3–4 class kilo with a world record time of 1 minute 14.936 second and also won the LC3–4 3km individual pursuit, as well as a silver medal in the LC3 class road time trial.
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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35 comments

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Bob's Bikes | 11 years ago
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I think we need to go over to the system used in various countries in the EU. The driver is automatically at fault in an accident and the burden of proof is on their shoulders, ie they need witnesses to say it was the other road user's fault (be that cyclist,pedestrian or horse rider).
As with other people have on this site have said I also believe that "careless" driving is DANGEROUS and both should be subject to upgraded (and more severe) sentencing guidelines

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ossiefikret replied to bendertherobot | 11 years ago
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Quite right - I mis-read. I thought it was causing death by dangerous driving - which is a custodial sentence.

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ossiefikret | 11 years ago
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.

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hood replied to notfastenough | 10 years ago
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sparrow_h wrote:

If he thought he had hit a sheep, why would he have hidden his van? Sounds like this man is not being completely honest here, in his efforts to weasel out of taking responsibility for seriously injuring someone and leaving them to die.

I can't see how he can deny that he was driving dangerously. How safe would he feel if everyone drove like that???

notfastenough wrote:

 13  13  13

My eyesight is pretty bad (-6.5 with an extra 1.25 astigmatism). When others try my specs on for a laugh, they joke that it's 'like taking drugs'. I cannot read even the top line unaided when I have an eye test. I sure as f*** wouldn't go anywhere, even walking, without specs. YET... I reckon I can see part of a number plate at 2 metres without them. And this was measured WITH his specs on!

This is beyond disgusting. If it wasn't for the witness, and indeed the Police willingness to deploy the helicopter to search for the vehicle, would he have even been caught? He seriously, seriously, needs the book thrown at him.

How can you be over the limit, that myopic, THOUGHT you only hit a sheep, and yet deny dangerous driving?! FFS.

+1 !

you guys hit th nail on the head.

he thought he hit a sheep but still tried to hide the evidence, he hid it well enough that a helicopter was required to find it (thank god the police put the 'copter out to find it at all!). its clear he is guilty, but his story doesnt even add up. if you are going to make up a story at least make it make sense , lol, your going down regardless!

oh, and while im on a rant, not being funny, but even hitting a sheet you should stop. firstly to check its not suffering and to put it out of its misery, secondly to make sure it hasnt died in the middle of the road and therefore causing a potential accident for the next motorist, and lastly, to check your vehicle is still safe to drive!!!!!!!!!!!

lets just hope he receives a permanent driving ban at least.

I hope Simon Richardson makes a full recovery and is still able to cycle competitively. surely theres a big compensation payout coming his way too

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Matt eaton | 10 years ago
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Unfortunately I'm sure that there are many drivers on our roads who are equally impaired, especially in rural areas.

What do you think the drivers of the cars outside that nice rural pub are up to? I'll give you a clue - its not drinking lemonade.

Drink driving in particular is a massive issue in rural areas as the chances of getting caught are almost zero.

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