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Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)Coach driver jailed for collision that killed Karla Roman
The coach driver who killed London cyclist Karla Roman when he turned left across her path has been jailed for 15 months for causing her death by careless driving, reports the London Evening Standard. The court heard that Barry Northcott, who denied the charges, only learnt that he had run her over when a passenger told him what had happened.
Roman, aged 32 and originally from Brazil, died from "catastrophic injuries" following the collision on Whitechapel Road on February 6, 2017.
She had been riding ahead of Northcott’s coach and would have been visible for 16 seconds, the jury heard.
CCTV footage revealed that Northcott illegally entered an advanced stop line – also known as a ‘bike box’ – at a junction. When interviewed by police, he admitted that he did this regularly to avoid being “swarmed by cyclists.”
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandu said: "The defendant began a left-hand turn and into the path that Karla Roman was on, he did not see her in the mirrors as he turned because he was not paying attention.
"He did not see her in the mirrors as he continued to turn as he was not paying attention, and when he made that left-hand turn into her path, his coach collided with her and ended up dragging her with her bike under the wheels of the coach."
Sentencing, Judge Christopher Kinch QC said: "It may be frustrating to see cyclists – swarming or otherwise – pulling in front at junctions.
"But the box is the device placed there to protect vulnerable cyclists from the consequences of not being seen as traffic pulls away.
"Motorists simply have to accept that, and it is not open to them to decide when and where they may ignore that rule."
Following the conviction, Roman’s family echoed the judge’s words, saying: "We feel Karla was let down by the driver of the coach when he disregarded the cycle box, which resulted in this fatal incident. We would appeal to any drivers reading this to think about your actions and respect the cycle box."
Northcott’s barrister, Harry Bentley, said the coach driver was "desperately sorry" for Roman's death “and at times he has considered ending his own life because of it."
As well as the jail sentence, Northcott was banned from driving for five years and 30 weeks.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- Daclu Trelub 0 sec ago
In a perfect world, we'd have a measure of how easily distracted someone is, as part of their driving test....
- Sredlums 27 min 16 sec ago
These products are nothing but ridiculously expensive and superfluous, and they bring nothing but bragging rights....
- HollisJ 29 min 19 sec ago
As a bystander in all this, it seems to me that the only person trying to win imaginary internet points in this is you....
- Daclu Trelub 42 min 53 sec ago
How does Mr Lucy tell you he's a bit of an arsehole without telling you he's a bit of an arsehole?
- Daclu Trelub 46 min 33 sec ago
Of course they are, and not so different. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09B662CDN?crid=34M42BETAMFT0&th=1 The bugger's got four versions up now!
- squidgy 1 hour 3 min ago
At least the van driver was nowhere near the stationary cyclist.
- OldRidgeback 1 hour 6 min ago
The BMX racers are also no longer being supported. Kye Whyte said he's lost his GT sponsorship. It also looks like GT will no longer make BMX bikes.
- hawkinspeter 1 hour 55 min ago
The people causing traffic jams complaining about the traffic jams
- Prosper0 3 hours 47 min ago
Nah I'm not sure it's the top end that's the issue. I'd hazard that if someone out there wants and can afford a 15k bike then they will still be...
- mattw 20 hours 50 min ago
Lisa Townsend very much views her police role through a political lens....
Add new comment
11 comments
Daily I see cars & buses in cycle only boxes.
It should be policed better, but is likley seen as a minor offence and a blind eye is thus turned.
Cyclists have few supporters on the road.
Why don't we (the cycling community) / road.cc start some sort of online register of this sort of thing - to list in particular offending company names? I for one would look at this list - and if there was an offending company on there such as this - I would go elsewhere and choose another company for what ever I was looking for (coach firm/builders...etc). If everyone done this - it could have both a very positive and substantial impact to these firms particularly when they start loosing business..............
Worth mentioning that half of the sentence will be on licence.
Also, even with that, this is an unusually HIGH sentence for a death by careless driving. And don't foget the cases where motorist friendly juries don't convict.
And people like West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team and the Met's Cycle Safety Team do enforce ASLs with charges getting 3 penalty point + fine .
I suppose, at least we got this out of a genuine judge.
Maybe have it laminated and pinned to junctions and traffic lights around the country...?
and nailed to the heads of drivers?
That would work too...
15 months, what an utterly disgusting sentence. How is this not dangerous driving, how is this cunt not doing at least 10 years. I hope he does kill himself, zero chance of him ever killing another!
RIP Karla
I thought the maximum sentence for causing death by careless driving was five years, with consideration given for an early guilty plea. The driver did not acknowledge his guilt at any point, so why not five years?
I appreciate it won't bring back Karla, but I fail to see why he didn't get the full term
They do seem to be very harshly picked on by cyclecammers...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Clarkes+Coaches
...or maybe it's just that their driving standards are fucking appalling.
You would think Clarks Coaches drivers would have been told to be extra careful in the wake of all the bad publicity. Apparently not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-5U23NQT00
At last, what feels like justice. Perhaps its not the death penalty that some would like but its a start that a custodial sentence is handed down and a decent ban.