‘Blinded’ taxi driver left cyclist injured in CrewkerneA TAXI driver who knocked a cyclist from his bike in Crewkerne leaving him with serious injuries thought he had hit a tree after being blinded by a bright light.
Waclaw Kieronski was driving along the A30 at Crewkerne when he struck the victim with his wing mirror who was cycling near the junction with Goldwell Lane.
A female passenger witnessed the driver knock the cyclist into the road who was later airlifted to hospital.
Kieronski, aged 48, of Kenmore Drive, Yeovil, pleaded guilty by post to driving without due care and attention on the A30 Yeovil Road at Crewkerne on July 23 last year.
Somerset Magistrates were told that the defendant had been driving a taxi at 4.15pm under a heavy canopy of trees and the bright sunlight was creating a “dazzling light”.
Prosecutor Sam Jones said: “Kieronski did not see the cyclist and struck him with his wing mirror knocking him into the road.
“A passenger in the front seat of the taxi saw the cyclist and said Kieronski had been driving between 45 and 50mph.
“The bike was damaged and the cyclist was airlifted to hospital suffering from a broken collarbone, fractured skull, multiple rib fractures and numerous cuts and bruises. Since the accident he is still having to undergo ongoing operations.”
When Kieronski was interviewed by police he said the sunlight was flashing through the trees and suddenly he heard a bang but he thought it was a tree.
He stopped, walked back, and found the man in the road as well as his broken wing mirror nearby.
The magistrates fined the defendant £210 and endorsed his licence with five penalty points. He was also ordered to pay £35 costs and a £21 victim surcharge.
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