A driver who had been accused of causing the death of a cyclist in London after opening the door of his van, with the rider swerving into the path of a taxi, has died two days before he was due to go on trial.
Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz, aged 55 and a doctor at Great Ormond Street Hospital, was fatally injured on 19 September last year when she was struck by a taxi as she took evasive action.
The van driver, who has not been named, had been due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court last week, reports the London Evening Standard.
However, the case was closed after the court learnt that he had died two days previously, reportedly suddenly while sleeping.
The 43-year-old had been charged with opening a car door, or causing or permitting it to be opened, so as to cause injury, an offence punishable with a maximum fine of £1,000.
According to the Standard, the 62-year-old driver of the taxi was interviewed by police in October on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and a file passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, but that case has now been dropped.
Professor Bitner-Glindzicz’s family is bringing a civil action in connection with her death and the lawyer working for them, Dushal Mehta from the firm Fieldfisher, said: “People whose loved ones are killed on the roads need to know they are fully supported by the law.
“I’m not convinced at the moment that is true.”
The charity Cycling UK has led calls for stricter penalties, including the option of imprisonment, and for a new offence of causing death or serious injury through opening a vehicle’s door.
Only if you have to return them to that place and they are secured in position - as with the Santander bikes. The other operators do have some...
Incidence versus impact. Terrorist incidents may be relatively rare, but each one tends to do more damage.
Don't you mean "Genuine fake"
What a load of b0ll0cks!...
OK, given I have a gravel bike, I'll take that one. Cyclists on roiad bikes can't ride safely on gravel. (Goes off for a sulk).
He probably just gets a fat cheque from Moscow/Tehran instead....
Real life does interfere with the game sometimes! I get irrationally fed up if I don't have enough time to read all the previews and study the odds...
A relief that it was an erratic motorcyclist that caused his momentary lapse of attention, not a cyclist, he probably could have got away with it...
He is known locally to have been involved in a previous serious road accident and escaped prosecution. He is also known locally to have regularly...
Pasties, please. Although not good for blood pressure.