Victim of pavement accident calls for crackdown on cycling insurance
Kate Wilson appeared on ITV’s This Morning to share her story yesterday. Accompanied by her friend Samantha Latham, who was with her at the time of the catastrophic accident, Kate bravely shared how she had been flung 12ft in the air and “left for dead” by a cyclist who hit her on the pavement. Whilst Kate was unconscious with blood pouring from her head, the cyclist got back on his bike, was “intimidating” and swore at Samantha, then cycled off still on the pavement and with no lights.
Kate had a battered face and front teeth and her little finger bone was sticking out of the skin. The hospital staff initially thought she had been hit by a car. After undergoing three operations, ultimately the little finger had to be amputated.
“Aggressive and unpleasant” cyclist charged for accident
Cyclist Carwyn Thomas pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm and received a suspended sentence of 14 months jail time, he must wear an alcohol abstinence monitor for 4 months and complete 250 of unpaid work. Kate and Samantha are now campaigning for tougher laws to protect pedestrians.
Comments on the This Morning social media post about the incident included calls for cyclists to have insurance, road tax and number plates the same as cars, and harrowing anecdotes from those who have found themselves in a similar situation to Kate. One comment, which has racked up 450 likes in agreement, stated –
“The worst thing about cyclists is the utter arrogance they have. “I’m saving the planet by cycling therefore I can do no wrong” sort of mentality. And yet clearly they can, and they do.”