A motorist who seriously injured a cyclist training for the Ironman Wales event in Tenby has been fined in court after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention.
Forty-five-year-old Gareth Gullidge, of Highfield Crescent, Pontllanfraeth, Blackwood, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday, to admit the charge.
The court heard how Mr. Gullidge claimed he did not see the the cyclist whilst driving his Mercedes-Benz on the A4139 Manorbier to Jameston road, when making a right turn on Monday, July 24, due to ‘sun glare’ when he hit him with his vehicle, throwing the man from his bike, who was subsequently rushed to hospital, and spent several days in a high dependency unit.
As a result of the collision, the court heard how the cyclist sustained serious injuries comprising of - a grade 5 dislocation and separation of the AC joint in the left shoulder, six fractured ribs on the left hand side (some of which were double fractures), a collapsed left lung, soft tissue damage to the left thigh, road rash to the left shoulder where he scraped the carriageway.
He was hospitalised and underwent an operation where five titanium plates were placed in the rib cage to rebuild it and an operation to the left shoulder for insertion of an artificial ligament.
As a result of the injuries sustained the cyclist was left with a deformity in size to the rib area, and with treatment ongoing and it is yet be
determined whether the injuries sustained will be life changing, particularly for
the shoulder injury, where full rotation appears likely to not be recovered.
“I did not see the cyclist because sun glare was in my eyes,” Mr. Gullidge told magistrates at the hearing, where he was representing himself.
“I was driving very slowly. I didn’t see him until it was too late. It was an accident,” added the defendant, who said that his insurance company was currently dealing with the case.
Magistrates fined Mr. Gullidge £360 for the offence, and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £36 victim surcharge.