Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Sussex woman cyclist named as driver involved in crash that claimed her life on Friday is jailed for 20 weeks

Swift sentence passed for driving without insurance and while disqualified... further charges may follow

The woman cyclist killed in a hit and run on Friday night in Sussex has been named by police. Jennifer Hossack, 27, from Horsham, was killed on the A29 when she was struck by a motorist.

Police are investigating whether additional charges can be brought against a man who has admitted driving while banned and driving without insurance in connection with the incident.

Samuel Kirk, aged 26 and from Billingshurst, has been jailed for 20 weeks for driving while banned and driving without insurance. He was also banned from driving for three years. He pleaded guilty to both charges at Worthing Magistrates’ Court yesterday, reports the BBC.

Police are continuing their investigations in connection with potential charges relating to the incident on the A29 near Pulborough at around 8pm on Friday evening.

According to the police, Kirk was driving south in his Citroën Xsara when he overtook another vehicle, crossing a double white line onto the northbound carriageway and struck the cyclist, who has not yet been named.

Potential further charges against Kirk include causing death by dangerous driving, failure to stop at a road collision, failure to report an accident, driving while under the influence of drugs, and causing a death while driving an unlicensed, uninsured car while being disqualified.

Sussex Police say that a 22-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy arrested following Friday’s fatality have been been released without charge.

Officers are also continuing to appeal for witnesses, and in particular a cyclist who was spotted in the area at the time of the incident who it is believed would have seen it.

Sergeant Stewart Goodwin from Sussex Police’s road policing team said: "The cyclist we would like to speak to was travelling north on the A29 but we have no further description of them at all. However they are a key witness to what happened and we urge them to get in touch.

"Anyone who has not spoken to us is asked to contact us on 101 or email collision.appeal [at] sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Barnward."

The incident in Sussex was one of two that claimed the lives of female cyclists in Britain last weekend, with Police Scotland naming the woman who died in an incident on Saturday morning in Moray.

A spokesman said: “We can confirm that the 44-year-old cyclist who died on Saturday following a collision on the B9102 Grantown on Spey to Craigellachie Road, Moray, near to the Dandaleith junction has been identified as Sally Low, of Archiestown, Moray.

“As with all sudden deaths a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

A third female cyclist involved in a serious incident at the weekend - following a collision with a van in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - remains in critical condition in Bristoi's Frenchay hospital.

Please note for legal reasons we are unable to accept comments on this story.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Latest Comments