- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
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
- Smoggysteve 9 min 56 sec ago
If I create a ride usinga garmin. I upload it to Garmin Connect and they pass it to Strava and other apps I choose such as Komoot. If Garmin wants...
- Jogle 16 min 9 sec ago
And a couple of small plastic bollards will stop the lorries going anywhere near the bridge. ...
- Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells 18 min 14 sec ago
Or completely give up.... and buy a emtb, which will break within 12 months, so you can lounge on the sofa guilt free 👍
- Rendel Harris 48 min 34 sec ago
You're quite entitled to feel that way if you wish but it would be rather more dignified if you attempted it yourself, preferably with some form of...
- Sredlums 1 hour 12 min ago
That bike is awesome. Always like the Mondriaan-esque style, so bold and recognisable.
- Secret_squirrel 1 hour 26 min ago
Why are they overpaid? They are partly responsible for bringing in hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars of TV revenue money for a very...
- Mr Blackbird 1 hour 27 min ago
Did the driver also claim that he was a member of Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple?
- chrisonabike 2 hours 42 min ago
I think I saw something like that at a Welsh international - it looked a bit leeky though.
- dreamlx10 2 hours 54 min ago
Ah, Endura the company owned by the man who told his employees to vote against Scottish independence as it would result in Scotland having to leave...
- Mr Rodgers 3 hours 4 min ago
My money would go to the Giant Defy range. The Mrs has a 2023 model last year which has 105 di2, capably handled bike-packing LEJOG, and has lots...
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.