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news
Footage via North Wales Police.jpgVideo: Welsh cyclist flips twice in horrific crash caused by driver who 'drifted off'
North Wales Police have released footage of the moment when a motorist ploughed into an oncoming cyclist following “a momentary lapse into sleep”. Jake Tompkinson was sentenced to 12 months and banned from driving for two and a half years for the collision in which Gareth Evans sustained 22 injuries including a punctured and bruised lung, four broken ribs, a broken eye socket and collarbone, and two broken toes.
The Daily Post reports that Evans also suffers post traumatic amnesia, and has lost his sense of smell and taste.
The collision took place in Talybont, Conwy Valley in July last year.
Tompkinson had led an overnight trek on Snowdon until 6.30am and after breakfast set off from Llanberis for home. The evening before, he had had five and a half hours sleep.
Alistair Macdonald QC, defending, said the crash was due to “a momentary lapse into sleep.”
Tompkinson admitted his fault immediately and gave first aid at the scene.
“You should have stopped and had a nap – there were two opportunities to do so,” said Judge Hale. “You were tired, you knew you were tired.”
He added: “You were responsible for causing very serious injury to Mr Evans by the way you drove that car on that sunny morning. The car is a lethal weapon.”
Investigating Officer, PC Einion Huws said: “The manner of Tompkinson’s driving was reckless and irresponsible and it is only by pure luck that we did not investigate this as a fatal collision.
“This collision was entirely preventable and shows what the consequences can be when drivers are not concentrating when behind the wheel whilst tired, and I would urge all motorists to adhere to the warning that tiredness can kill.
“As a result of the collision the cyclist was left with serious injuries and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery.
“I hope the sentence handed by the court will send out a very clear message that anyone convicted of such offences will be dealt with robustly.”
Reacting to the sentence, Evans said: “He fell asleep, it was an accident. I have no idea if the guy that did this to me is a good guy or not, but him going to jail doesn’t really make me feel any better.
“It means his life will be ruined as he’ll have a criminal record. I’m surprised he got a year, but I think the judge must have been shocked by the footage of the accident.”
He added: “I’m having an operation to pin my collarbone. I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to work this year.
“My life is shattered, and I’m in pain every day. But as a cyclist you can cope with pain and I’m getting used to it. Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I just tell myself I could have ended up in a wheelchair or dead.”
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.
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16 comments
No winners here. Terrible incident.
Cyclist has serious injuries and hope he makes a good recovery.
Driver by all accounts was a decent person, now in prison and probably will lose his job when out and live with the guilt and conviction for the rest of his life.
Typical first comment on the Daily Post website...
MickCarver :
use the bloody cycle track!!!!
Helen Measures was absolutly responsible for the death of Denisa Perinova and its astonishing she managed to worm out of it. There are not many people that I wish bad things upon but no f**ks would be given where Helen Measures is concerned.
It was not an 'accident'. It's never an 'accident'. There is always fault - in this case the car driver was sleep deprived. It may not be deliberate or malicious but it was not an 'accident'.
"But as a cyclist you can cope with pain and I’m getting used to it" Nice!
It is my belief that Killer driver Helen Measures is attempting to do that Google privacy bit where she can get Google to "forget" some of the web pages that mention that she is a killer driver. The more we remember the less the web can forget.
Ouch
My God grim footage
In this case we have a driver who crossed into the opposite lane, failed to take action to avoid a collision and seriously injured a cyclist. Dr Helen Measures did the same thing, except that she was aware of what she was doing and still failed to take avoiding action, and she killed Denisa Perinova.
How can the first case result in jail time, yet in the other case the driver walks free?
"Guilty" vs "Not Guilty" plea.
In this case Mr Sleepy admitted he was at fault and accepted the consequenses.
Dr Helene Measures will have denied responsibility so to get a conviction they no doubt dropped from "Dangerous Driving" to "Slightly imperfect Driving"
Trigger words. Helen Measures.
1. Video footage
2. Church goer/Cancer doctor played upon at court for the benefit of jury
3. Woman
4. Foreign' 'girl' who was deemed to be inexperienced on a new bike.
5. Blamed ictim for wobbling/riding into car
6. Moron CPS/Judge/Jury
I hope Measures dies a little bit every day knowing she killed an innocent person but I doubt it, calculating disgusting piece of shit that has no conscience whatsoever, inhuman in fact.
Whilst Gail Purcell got off with no charge either (by the CPS anyway) and no angel she didn't fucking blame her victim for their death/incident occuring.
You forget doctors are well paid so are able to pay for good legal representation.
Not sure I'd have been as forgiving as Mr Evans, remarkably sanguin for someone who sustained so much physical and mental injury.
Not sure that the word 'accident' is appropriate in this repect - it was entirely avoidable.
Glad he got prison but I really dont get the banned for 2 yars thing.
Do something like that and you should never drive again, it the only way people will take it seriously.
As for Gareth....seriously badass attitude, hat.
God bless Gog plod.
Wow, it seems crazy to say this but he was very lucky :-o