Truck driver dragged cyclist 14 metres, waited for paramedics, then drove off to make his next delivery

A court has heard how a lorry driver who dragged a cyclist 14 metres under his wheels waited eight minutes until the paramedics arrived and then drove off without speaking to the police. Darren Anderton – who denies causing the death of Magda Tadaj by careless driving – later told officers he had just been passing when she was hit by a car, and that he left the scene as he felt there was "nothing he could do".

The BBC reports that Tadaj sustained ‘catastophic injuries’ when she went under the wheels of Anderton’s truck last May.

The Old Bailey heard that the incident took place on St James's Road, Croydon, at a narrow point where the cycle lane ends.

Tadaj had just moved in front of the lorry and was about two metres ahead when Anderton began to accelerate.

Prosecutor Ian McLoughlin told jurors: "Instead of pulling out to allow Ms Tadaj sufficient space or slowing to allow her to continue ahead, the defendant maintained his course and struck her on the near side of his vehicle just in front of the wheel arch in front of his cab."

There were a number of witnesses to the collision and CCTV footage from the lorry.

Anderton stopped and saw Tadaj lying in the road. McLoughlin said that he waited for about eight minutes for paramedics to arrive and then drove off to complete his delivery.

Police officers tracked him down after this delivery, arresting him on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

He told police he had heard a "cry or scream" and had seen a woman lying in the road in his mirror. He allegedly said he did not know how she came to be on the ground and did not remember any impact.

Anderton had left his base in Coventry at about 4am and had driven about 140 miles before the crash.

He said there were no problems with his mirrors and that he was not using his mobile phone at the time.

He said he had been driving for 30 years and had considered himself a "good driver" but now never wants to drive again.

The case continues.