Iceland delivery driver killed cyclist while looking at sat-nav

An Iceland delivery driver who was looking at his sat-nav when he hit and killed a cyclist on Christmas Eve last year has been sent to jail for three years.

David Power, aged 64, died from cardiac arrest after he was struck by a van driven by Lewis Smith, aged 24 and from Caerphilly, in Cwmbran, Torfaen, reports Wales Online.

Mr Power was conscious after the crash, in which he sustained injuries including grazes to his torso and he was bleeding from his mouth and the back of his head, which was also bruised.

Paramedics were treating him for his injuries in the back of an ambulance when he went into cardiac arrest and died.

Smith, who pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving, told police at the scene that he had moved across the road to give Mr Power space, but after looking at his sat-nav he heard a bang and realised, when he checked his mirror, that he had hit the cyclist.

Video footage from a dashcam in Smith’s van showed that he looked at the sat-nav for nine seconds before the fatal crash.

Mr Power, nicknamed Dapper, was well-known in rugby circles, and in a victim impact statement his sister Susan Hobbs said: “He was looking to the future. He had a knack of making me feel special. He was honorary secretary of the Welsh Charitables RFC and it was his life. He would arrange for international rugby players to come to events.

“He loved being involved in family and social events. David has left a massive void... it's terrible not having him here.”

Ieuan Bennett, defending Smith, said in mitigation: “The defendant was a young man with a decent future in front of him. This has caused the defendant himself to deal with stress. He has been back and forth to the doctors suffering with insomnia, flashbacks, and depression. If he could turn the clocks back he would.”

Judge Jeremy Jenkins, who besides the prison sentence also banned Smith from driving for four and a half years, said: “On one hand I am dealing with a family who is grieving the loss of a loved and cherished member and on the other hand I'm also dealing with a young and intelligent man who has great prospects in life and will make a valuable contribution to society in the future.

“Nobody intended this tragedy and no sentence I can pass can assuage the deep sense of loss and grief felt by the family of David Power.

“To take one's eyes off the road for nine seconds when you're driving amounts to creating a substantial risk of danger,” he added. “You have expressed genuine remorse.”