Driver on drugs drove head-on into four cyclists
ADRIVER who had taken amphetamine ploughed into a group of cyclists, throwing some into the air and forcing others under the car.
Jason Morgan did not even try to brake as he drove at around 60mph on the wrong side of the road towards the group before his bumper hit the front cyclist’s leg.
In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court, Darran Thomas said: “I don’t think I will ever be the same person again.”
The incident happened on a mountain road at Mynydd Fochrhiw in Bargoed on April 20 last year. Peter Donnison, prosecuting, said friends Mr Thomas, Huw Smith, Christopher Jones and David Myhill met at Treforest to cycle together. They were described as “experienced and passionate” cyclists who had ridden all over the world.
They cycled towards Abercynon – a “very hilly” route. Mr Thomas, who was at the front, heard a car engine revving and saw a Vauxhall Corsa on the wrong side of the road travelling towards them.
Mr Donnison said: “The defendant made no attempt to stop. He kept driving towards them.”
Mr Thomas thought the driver did not like cyclists and was doing it on purpose to scare them, then realised he was not going to swerve or stop.
The front cyclist shouted at the driver and tried to avoid the car by turning towards the grassy bank, but he felt the bumper hit his leg and bike and he was thrown into the air.
Mr Smith could not remember what happened, as he suffered a head injury.
Mr Jones, behind him, remembered hearing a loud crash, feeling an impact and being hurled into the air. Mr Myhill did not see anything but heard a loud bang.
Morgan was arrested and taken to Ystrad Mynach Police Station. He was described as “drowsy” and taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital as he was not fit to be detained. He was found to have 812 micrograms of amphetamine in his blood.
The court heard the car’s windscreen was smashed and there was evidence some of the cyclists were thrown over the vehicle while others were forced under it.
Mr Thomas, 54, suffered lifechanging injuries, including a broken leg which had to be completely reconstructed. He had six fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a chipped shoulder and spinal injuries. He spent five days in intensive care.
Mr Smith had to have facial surgery and dental treatment. It is estimated he will need £40,000 worth of extra dental treatment.
Mr Jones, who was concussed, feared for his work as a ski instructor due to his knee injury.
Mr Myhill did not feel able to provide a victim impact statement as he did not want to relive what happened.
Morgan, 48, from Coly Row in Bedlinog, Treharris, admitted dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Lucy Crowther, for Morgan, reminded the judge her client had already been punished for the amphetamine offence in the magistrates’ court.
She added: “He does ask me to say, on his behalf, how desperately sorry he is. He has not driven since and he has got no intention of ever driving again in his life.”
He was sent to prison for two years and eight months and will have to serve half of that before he can be released on licence. He will be disqualified from driving for three years from the time of his release and have to pass an extended test before being allowed to drive again. An order was made for his car to be confiscated.