Parents ask killer driver: ‘Why didn’t you see our son?’
THE parents of a cyclist killed by a driver who hit him from behind with his Jeep have asked: “Why didn’t you see him?”
The victim was thrown into the air after being hit and suffered a serious head injury which led to his death.
Raymond Treharne, 73, killed David Jones when his Grand Cherokee collided with the latter’s bike on the A48 Crack Hill in Bridgend at around 5.50am on May 27, 2020.
Following the collision, the defendant was “in shock” and told people: “I hit him... He was standing on the bike. He fell into the road.”
Mr Jones hit the ground and lay unmoving and covered in blood as his bike went under the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
A trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard there was no evidence Treharne had applied his brakes or swerved prior to the collision.
Forensic collision investigators concluded Mr Jones was in an upright position and fixed to his bike at the moment of the crash rather than falling from a static position.
Treharne, of Abbey Road, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, was found guilty by a jury of causing death by careless driving.
A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Monday heard a victim personal statement from Mr Jones’ father Tony Jones, who said he and his family felt “an array of emotions” including “disbelief, numbness, anger and guilt”.
He added: “We feel able to tell you, Raymond Treharne, the pain you have caused by what you did that day.
“Davey doesn’t have a voice now, we brought him into this world and feel it’s our duty to speak for him.
“We’re good people and a good family. We don’t harbour hate or malice towards anyone. We’re not looking for vengeance or a pound of flesh.
“We’re looking for justice and an answer to an easy question. Where were you looking? How could you not see my son riding a bike?
“He was doing what he loved.... He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Why didn’t you see him?
“Only you and your conscience can answer that question.”
Mr Jones Sr said Treharne’s decision to plead not guilty had prolonged the family’s pain.
He said their world had been “turned upside-down” and no sentence passed by the court would bring their son back.
The father added: “Rest in peace Davey. We love you and miss you.”
The victim’s former partner and mother of his children, Michelle Crocker, said Mr Jones’ two children had been affected by his death. She said: “My son asks, ‘Why did my dad die so young?’ and I have no answer to give him... Telling them their father had died was the hardest thing I’ve had to do.”
In mitigation, defence barrister Helen Randall described Mr Jones’ death as “a desperately sad incident with tragic consequences”.
She said the incident has had a “profound effect” on Treharne, who was a professional driver of more than 50 years.
She said the defendant has now stopped driving, which has brought about an early retirement, with Ms Randall describing the ageing process as “significant”.
Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said Mr Jones was not to blame in any way for his death.
She said the deceased’s family would have to live with the consequences of Treharne’s actions for the rest of their lives.
She added: “Periods of inattention can have catastrophic effects and that is what happened here... You failed to have regard to a vulnerable road user, namely a cyclist, on this road.”
Treharne was sentenced to 36 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
He was made subject to a curfew between 5pm and 6am for six months. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.