Vasile Barbu has been found guilty of dangerous driving, which resulted in the death of Rebecca Comins, a 52-year-old triathlete, during an organised time-trial race on 2 June 2022. Barbu was driving a van on the A40 near Raglan when the accident occurred. He hit Comins, throwing her into the air, causing her to land in the nearby hedges and sustaining blunt chest injuries that ultimately led to her untimely death. The Cardiff Crown Court heard that Barbu remained in the same lane after the collision and that there were signs warning of the presence of cyclists on the road.
One of the eye-witnesses reported moving into the centre lane to avoid the cyclists on the road and later saw Barbu’s van through their rear-view mirror, still on the same lane, striking Comins. Another cyclist, who was a few places behind Comins, felt “buzzed” as the van drove too close past him. The jury heard that all cyclists in the race had a red light at the rear portion of their bikes, and the road had good visibility.
Comins’ family issued a statement following the trial, describing her as a wonderful wife, mother, kind, and an inspiration to many. They also stated that the verdict could never bring back their beloved Beckie, promising that she would be forever missed. Barbu has been granted bail until his sentencing and has been banned from driving with an inevitable prison term expectation, according to Judge Shonon Khan’s statement.
Finally, Barbu, who passed an alcohol and drugs test following the accident, told the police that he heard a “knock” and pulled over, thinking that the parcels he was carrying had moved. He admitted seeing a cyclist but could not explain how he hit Comins, leading to the tragic incident that left a family grieving their loved one forever
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