Family ‘devastated’ after biker father killed by bus
AFAMILY has been left “devastated” after a motorcyclist was killed suddenly when a bus drove into the back of his motorbike at traffic lights.
Experienced biker David Walker – a husband and father – was 48 when he died after the Cardiff Bus vehicle driven by Wayne Hamblin knocked him off and caused him fatal injuries.
In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court, his wife Sarah Walker said: “Our lives have been devastated.”
The court heard the fatal collision occurred around midday on October 17 last year at the junction between the A469 Caerphilly Road and MaesY-Coed Road.
Gareth James, prosecuting, described the incident as “tragic”.
He said Hamblin was driving a bus on the Number 27 route with passengers on board while Mr Walker was riding a Honda motorbike.
The court heard the bus was directly behind the motorcycle in a queue of traffic waiting at a red light.
Hamblin left the automatic gearbox in drive and applied the handbrake, then checked the ticket machine which was low on paper.
Prosecutors said he was looking down when the traffic began to move and he released the handbrake, causing the bus to move forward immediately.
Mr James stated his driving was careless because he was not looking through the windscreen when he pulled off and argued Mr Walker was a vulnerable road user. The court heard the motorbike remained stationary and the bus hit the back of it, knocking Mr Walker out of the saddle.
Prosecutors said Hamblin “panicked” and pressed the accelerator, speeding up to 10mph and steering to the side, before he hit the brake.
The bus driver and other people at the scene tried to help Mr Walker before the emergency services arrived.
Mr James said: “Police and paramedics attended, but unfortunately the severity of his injuries meant they could not save him.”
The court heard Mr Walker, a planning inspector, was a “family man” who had ridden bikes all his life.
His wife said he had ridden a motorbike for 20 years throughout the UK and Europe, adding she did not worry about his safety because he was so careful and experienced.
Judge Eleri Rees noted Mr Walker, who had completed a Bike Safe workshop with Gwent Police, was a “wholly innocent victim” who did not contribute in any way to the collision.
Mrs Walker described them as a “close family” who spent most of their time together.
She said: “I have lost my partner of 28 years and my children have lost their father far too early. We will miss his wisdom, his humour, his compassion and his love.”
Hamblin was arrested at the scene and interviewed by the police.
The 59-year-old, from Hazelwood Drive in St Mellons, Cardiff, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to causing death by careless driving.
Rosamund Rutter, defending, said her client had more than 20 years of experience as a professional bus driver.
Colleagues described his driving as “impeccable” and the court heard he helped to train other drivers.
Richard Davies, operations and commercial director at Cardiff Bus, said they monitor the standards of their employees’ driving on a regular basis. He said in the year before the incident, Hamblin consistently achieved “very good” scores.
Ms Rutter emphasised the defendant had no relevant or recent previous convictions and described him as a “broken man”.
She said: “He tells me that if he could, he would swap places with Mr Walker. That is the bitter reality of this situation.”
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Rees told the defendant: “There is no doubt that you feel genuine remorse and you will continue to carry that guilt for the rest of your life. That in itself is a heavy sentence for anyone.”
Hamblin was given a 20-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from driving for a year.
He must comply with an 18-week curfew and pay £500 in costs, plus a £115 victim surcharge.