A driver has been fined £613 despite causing a crash that left a woman cyclist with such serious injuries that she required emergency surgery and has still not recovered.
Andrzej Pietrzak, 66, said a ‘momentary lapse’ in concentration had seen him pull out, hitting the woman as she peddled past a junction in the NR3 area of Norwich.
Emergency services were called to Bull Close Road following the collision involving his Peugeot 307 at 5.39am on January 16 this year.
Norwich Magistrates Court was told the crash had left the woman with serious leg injuries including a broken tibia and fibula.
Sarah Fiddy, prosecuting, said she had since had to undergo surgeries and had been told it might take a year for her to make a full recovery.
Pietrzak, of Legarda Court, off Sprowston Road in Norwich, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury due to careless driving.
Ms Fiddy said the cyclist was a “vulnerable road user” and had her bike lights on when he pulled into her path at the junction of Bull Close Road and Charlton Road.
Gina Mattioli, mitigating, said he was “extremely apologetic”.
“He was waiting for another vehicle to pass and unfortunately pulled out without seeing the cyclist who was somewhat hidden behind another car,” she said.
“He has been driving for 37 years without any issues. This has terrified him and he hasn’t driven since, instead taking the bus to work.”
Despite both prosecution and defence agreeing he should be subject to a community sentence, magistrates said they had decided instead to fine him £617 and that he pay costs of £390.
The case comes amid renewed appeals for drivers to take extra care in the city after a woman died and another rider was seriously injured.
Norwich Cycling Campaign's Derek Williams said: "It only takes a little lapse in concentration and it can cause a lot of problems.”
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23805040.norwich-driver-fined-617-serious-nr3-cyclist-crash/
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