Corwen: Crash that killed cyclist 'unavoidable', inquest hears

BBC News

19-05-2025

A woman who fatally hit a cyclist while driving said there was nothing she could do to stop it and she thinks about it "every single day", an inquest has heard.David Fanning, 56, from Pencoed, Corwen, Denbighshire, was cycling along the A5 towards Llangollen on the evening of 31 January 2022 when he was hit by a car.Despite attempts to resuscitate Mr Fanning, he died at the scene from severe chest injuries.Speaking at the inquest in Ruthin, a forensic collision investigator described the crash as "unavoidable", while a coroner said Mr Fanning's dark, non-reflective clothing "diminished his visibility to other road users".
Driver Lowri Williams said she momentarily glanced down at her gearstick and when she looked up there was "suddenly" a cyclist wearing dark clothing in front of her.She told John Gittins, the senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, she tried to swerve but the vehicle struck Mr Fanning. She estimated her speed was between 50-55mph in a 60 mph zone.After seeing him lying in the road she called 999 while another passing motorist - a district nurse - performed CPR on him. Miss Williams said she had been arrested at the scene following the incident but was released without charge after being interviewed.She was breathalysed by police and found to be under the legal drink drive limit."I wish I could have changed what happened but I couldn't. There was nothing to stop it from happening," she said.
Forensic collision investigator Ian Thompson compiled a report on behalf of North Wales Police, and said: "In my opinion this collision was unavoidable."His findings were consistent with Miss Williams swerving away at the last minute based on a reaction time of about 1.6 seconds.He told the inquest that Miss Williams' phone was examined and it was not being used at the time.Mr Thompson accepted that although lights from Mr Fanning's bike couldn't be found it was possible they were thrown off during the crash and lost.
William Tyler, representing Mr Fanning's family, told the inquest they have "concerns about the way the collision was modelled" by Mr Thompson.His family said cycling was Mr Fanning's preferred mode of transport ever since his childhood. He cycled to France with a friend at 18 years old and was a popular member of the cycling club community, including Bala Cycling Club. Other motorists gave evidence about seeing Mr Fanning riding along the A5 that day and most said he was wearing dark clothes and they couldn't see any rear lights.One witness said they spotted him "at the last minute" because of his pedal reflectors and swerved to avoid him.Mr Gittins concluded Mr Fanning's death was caused by a road traffic collision.