82-year-old driver who shattered schoolboy cyclist's leg told never drive again

An 82-year-old pensioner who left an 11-year-old schoolboy with a shattered leg after her car ran over his bike had been told by a Judge that she should never drive again.

Jane Taylor did not see the schoolboy on his bicycle in the car park of the St Blazey Coop store because her eyesight was so poor that she was unable to read a numberplate from 20 metres when she was asked to by the police.

The boy should have been very visible because he was wearing a bright red Manchester United replica shirt but she never saw him and drove over him after hearing an initial bump.

The accident broke one of his legs in two placed and caused other damage to it. The child was so severely injured that he had to be flown to the Bristol Children’s Hospital for emergency treatment.

He had a metal cage fitted around the leg, spent six months in a wheelchair, and was still in pain many months after that. He wrote a victim impact statement saying he had been a keen footballer and fast runner but now feels unable to join in with other pupils at his new secondary school.

His mother said the accident, which happened on June 2 last year, prevented him spending the summer holidays playing on the beach with his friends and had left him socially isolated.

Taylor, aged 82, from St Blazey, denied causing serious injury by careless driving but was found guilty by a jury at Truro Crown Court last week.

She was banned from driving for two years with an extended re-test and fined £1,000 by Judge James Adkin, who sat in Exeter while Taylor attended by video link from Truro.

The judge told her: “Your eyesight was defective, as was simply demonstrated when the police asked you to read a number plate from 20 metres. I have heard how the injury had a significant impact on a young boy.

“In my opinion your age related difficulties in eyesight, hearing loss and frailty mean it is unlikely that you would ever be insured to drive again.”

Miss Francesca Whebell, prosecuting, said Taylor was not aware that she had knocked the boy off his bike and drove over his leg, causing the serious injuries.

Taylor was only able to read a numberplate at 10 metres when tested by police at the scene. Her eyesight had not been checked since 2020 but was due a test later that month. It showed it had deteriorated markedly.

Taylor’s defence barrister said she was of positive good character and had never been in trouble before. During the trial she said she had not seen the boy but heard a thud and moved forward to get clear.