Cyclist left with 'devastating injuries' after driver turned into her path
A cyclist was left with “devastating injuries” after being hit by a car which turned right into her path, a court has heard. Chantelle Hawkins, 29, said she hadn’t seen the victim cycling across the entrance to Truro train station and only stopped when she heard a “thud”.
Hawkins, of Helston, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing today (January 20) after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by careless / inconsiderate driving.
Prosecuting the case, Laura D'Alessandro told the court that on the afternoon of March 23 last year, the victim was riding her bike down Station Road in Truro when she was hit by a Volkswagen Golf being driven by Hawkins. Ms D’Alessandro explained that Hawkins had turned right into the car park of Truro train station just as the victim was cycling past.
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The victim said she had “braked hard” in an attempt to stop but was unable to avoid the collision. She then collided with the side of Hawkins’ car before being thrown into the air and hitting the road.
Two witnesses said the victim was nearly half way across the entrance to the car park when Hawkins turned into her path. After the collision, the victim said she felt severe pain in her right arm when she tried to move.
Ms D’Alessandro said Hawkins told the police that she had not seen the cyclist as she had looked and saw nothing before turning. It was only after she heard a “thud” that she realised she had hit the cyclist.
The victim was taken to Treliske hospital where she was initially discharged after being told she had sustained severe bruising to her right upper arm. However, the victim returned to hospital two days later due to ongoing pain and was told that she had a displaced break to her right upper arm, with the fracture line extending across the line of her humerus, which had been missed during the initial examination.
During a follow-up appointment in June, it was found that there was complete healing to the victim’s arm, but she still had limited movement. Inflammation and a possible tear to one of the tendons in her arm was also diagnosed, so she was told to continue physiotherapy.
In a victim impact statement, she said that she was unable to do any of the activities she enjoys over the summer, including swimming, due to the movement in her arm being limited. While she had intense physiotherapy she said it hasn’t resolved the limitation of movement she experiences in her right shoulder.
In defence of Hawkins, it was heard that she had stopped and said at the scene that she was sorry she didn’t see the woman. She is also of previous good character, with no previous convictions and an otherwise good driving record.
Judge Simon Carr told Hawkins that the cyclist was “absolutely in line of sight as she was coming towards her”. He added that the effect on the victim has been “devastating”.
However, he acknowledged that Hawkins went to help the victim who was in the road after the collision.
Hawkins was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years. She was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and made subject to a short period of curfew from 7am to 7pm. Her licence was also endorsed.
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