Speeding driver who hit teacher cycling home and seriously injured him is spared jail

Tyler Maddox, 27, of First Avenue, Shrewsbury, admitted one charge of causing serious injury by careless driving when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court, sitting at Telford Justice Centre.

Stephan Kolodynski, prosecuting, told how Maddox, who was driving a white Audi A3, had hit Shrewsbury College teacher Edward Cooper while he was cycling home.

The incident took place on a road parallel to Sundorne Road in Shrewsbury at around 5.30pm on December 8 last year.

The court was told it was dark at the time of the incident, but that Mr Cooper, an experienced cyclist, had LED lights on his bike, reflective clothing, and a helmet on.

Mr Kolodynski told the court that witnesses had described Maddox as going over the 30mph speed limit – with Judge, Recorder Richard McConaghy, accepting he was travelling at around 40mph.

The court heard Maddox had driven into Mr Cooper as he travelled towards him, throwing the cyclist onto the bonnet, before he rolled underneath the bumper.

Mr Kolodynski said that Maddox had slowed the vehicle as the collision took place but added that the bike was thrown three metres into the air.

He told the court that Maddox had then gotten out of the car and shouted 'what the **** are you playing at' to the stricken cyclist.

Police examinations of Maddox's vehicle found its stopping distance could have been affected because its tyres were under inflated, one had insufficient tread depth, while the windscreen had a large sun strip, which officers were concerned would have limited the view.

The court was told of the significant impact the crash has had on Mr Cooper.