Elderly cyclist hit by driver who pulled out in front of her in horror crash

CCTV footage shows the horrifying moment an elderly cyclist was sent flying through the air after a driver ploughed into her.

The 71-year-old woman was left with a bleed on the brain after being hit by a Citroen C3 Flair being driven by Thomas Freeman, 29, in Coventry.

Freeman is seen pulling out in front of the cyclist, sending her into the air before she slams into the ground.

West Midlands Police have released the footage, with the agreement of the victim, to “highlight the responsibility drivers have to more vulnerable road users”.

The incident happened on Wildcroft Road, Coventry, on 6 May. Freeman admitted causing serious injury by careless driving and was jailed for a year.

He was also banned from driving for two years.

Watch more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/cyclist-car-crash-coventry-video-b2470760.html

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7 comments

  1. I know 2 cyclists personally who had a crash with similar brain injury. Drivers need to be very careful to look out for cyclists. They can literally hide behind your A pillar and then pop out from (seemingly) nowhere. If you hit them it will usually be your fault for not paying attention to the road.

  2. In additional, she wasn't wearing a helmet. Honestly, I've seen that one piece of equipment take such a bunch of force away from the brain in my profession.

  3. Prison for this is madness. That person clearly didn't intend for it to happen, the car in the other direction obscured the view and that 'elderly' cyclist was shifting. I say this as someone who cycles on roads around 50 miles a week.

    Yes a fine and a ban, but prison makes no sense unless they were drunk or already banned.

  4. Prison!!! the driver isnt a criminal… the cyclist seem to be going quite fast, not sure if she had all the safety gear on, dont seem to have lights on..id say considering most cyclists go on the road without insurance, lights, safety gear, turning signals and so on.. they are taking a risk, if a cyclist doesnt have all these, its on them to make themselves visible and slow down at intersections or such situations… im not saying the driver doesnt take any blame for not paying extra attention, but come on.. prison is too much! Our uk roads arent for cyclists really, they are too tight to accomodate all the vehicles that use it already.. seen busses, trucks, cars of all sizes, motorbikes…considering that the size of those roads was originally built for horse carriages and now expecting it to be good enough for all these vehicles is wrong…

  5. Some motorists simply do no observe the highway code, I was today as a pedestrian almost knocked down on a pedestrian crossing by a motorist who was not stopping. There is NO excuse.

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