Man jailed for 80mph crash that changed cyclist's life
A HIT-AND-RUN driver who left a cyclist with life-changing injuries has been jailed for six months.
Driver Richard Malia, who had earlier been drinking in Derby city centre, left Tyrone Tunnicliffe with a fractured spine and a pelvis in the accident eight months ago, Derby Crown Court heard.
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Mr Tunnicliffe needed two major operations, had metal plates inserted and is still unable to walk unaided.
Malia, 21, was travelling at 80mph along Manor Road, which has a 40mph limit, when he hit 35-year-old Mr Tunnicliffe from behind, throwing the cyclist from his bike.
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His Audi A3 then veered over to the opposite side of the dual carriageway and hit a parked car before speeding off in the wrong direction, said prosecutor Sherrall Pickford.
Jailing him for six months, Recorder Stephen Eyre said: "I have to sentence you for an appalling piece of driving which had serious consequences for the man you knocked off his bike.
"You drove at 80mph at night, in a 40mph limit, no doubt also having been drinking earlier in the evening, and caused serious injuries to Mr Tunnicliffe."
The court heard that Mr Tunnicliffe, a cleaner at Royal Derby Hospital, was still in a lot of pain, needed physiotherapy every day, could only walk short distances with the support of walking sticks and now used a mobility scooter to get around.
Miss Pickford said: "He has not been able to work since the incident and it will be a long time yet before he can. He says the incident has affected his whole life and his family's life because during the course of the operations his parents were told there was a risk that he might have died."
Miss Pickford said that Malia, of Larkhill Crescent, Sinfin, did not go to police until about 24 hours after the crash, which happened at about 1am on March 13.
"He said that while driving he lost control of the wheel due to a tyre blowing and went over to the other carriageway and hit a car.
"He denied colliding with a cyclist. He said he struck something before colliding with the car but did not know what. He accepted he had been drinking. He accepted his speed was grossly excessive at 80mph."
Malia admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report it as soon as reasonable.
Stephen Cobley, in mitigation, said: "On that day he made some terrible and illegal decisions which have had some disastrous consequences for the victim. Mr Malia is sorry for his actions and the effect had on Mr Tunnicliffe."
Malia was also banned from driving for a year and will have to pass an extended test to recover his licence.
Comments
by taz35
Sunday, August 14 2011, 4:09PM
“tyrone comment that this life never be same ever again man who hit him he know him well he only did two mouth out of 6 mouth tyrone live has be left upside down and dealing with this for rest off his life still in loads pain and going to loads off apponments not fair tyrone may not work ever again thanks too this person need do live him self and no be aload on road ever again”
by JL, Derby
Tuesday, November 23 2010, 10:21AM
“Anonymouse kind of proving my point exactly there!
He doesnt care what other people think, because other people can't think because they are clearly idiots
Aparently though it is me that has the "annally retentive obsessive personality" and partakes in "personal abuse";)”
by JL, Derby
Tuesday, November 23 2010, 10:20AM
“Anonymouse kind of proving my point exactly there!
He doesnt care what other people think, because other people can't think because they are clearly idiots
Aparently though it is me that has the "annally (retentive obsessive personality" and partakes in "personal abuse";)”
by malcolm, Spondon
Monday, November 22 2010, 10:56PM
“We must think about others who use the pavments those with mobilty scooters etc must give way to pedestrians and like cycleists should stop on the road see the highway code it is illegale to use a bike on the pavement if found be liabel to be fined or worse yes your on the pavement for safty as car drivers ignore the rules of the road but we seem to have forgoten the cause of this the poor chap in hospital knock off his bike by a moterist breaking the speed limit by going at 80 you can get fined by going through a puddle and getting a person wet who is on the pavement all you need is to take the reg number an report them same as motorbiks.”
by Anonymouse, Derby
Monday, November 22 2010, 10:39PM
“Have some respect for the injured party in this story please, instead of trying to turn it into another one of your angry tyrades that we are ALL tired of reading
JL, derby
Go and address your personal abuse and annally retentive obsessive personality at some who cares what YOU think?
Lol - theres a laught - "think". A totally alien concept to you.”
by JL, derby
Monday, November 22 2010, 9:11PM
“dunno why your getting narked about that comment Anonymouse
You assume everyone is an idiot anyway!
Oh and BTW - I do pay VED (its not a ROAD tax, but a Vehicle Tax for using your vehicle, not for using the road) - on 2 cars!
I also own 4 bikes, so put that in your pipe and get worked up on it
whilst your at it I also suggest you read up on the highway code - undertaking a queue of stationary or slow moving vehicles is not actually illegal
Have some respect for the injured party in this story please, instead of trying to turn it into another one of your angry tyrades that we are ALL tired of reading”
by Angela, Derby
Monday, November 22 2010, 7:37PM
“Rat, bin
Tell that to my 12 year old who was hit from behind by a woman on a bike on London Road. He was on the pavement, she rode straight into him, knocking him flying, she didn't even look round, never mind stopped.”
by Anonymouse, Derby
Monday, November 22 2010, 4:04PM
“. I find the best advice is to assume that all road users are idiots and have no regard for other road users.
Plumbumb, Scunthorpe
.
You mean like motorists (who pay road tax to use the roads) have to assume that every cyclist is an ignorant oik who will shoot traffic lights, undertake stationary vehicles (illegal) and rode two abrest holding everyone else up?
If you dont feel safe I have a suggstion - pay road tax and get a car and do everyone a favour.”
by Rat, Bin
Monday, November 22 2010, 2:09PM
“Spare a thought for cyclists on the pavement. Many are just trying to stay alive.Until the city has a complete cycle path network, it's going to continue.”
by Plumbumb, Scunthorpe
Monday, November 22 2010, 2:05PM
“I regularly cycle and,despite being lit up like a Christmas tree, rarely feel safe on the roads, especially at this time of year. I find the best advice is to assume that all road users are idiots and have no regard for other road users.”