Woman who gestured at 77-yr-old cyclist on pavement causing her to have fatal accident is convicted
HUNTINGDON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE: A pedestrian who raised her hand at an elderly cyclist riding on a pavement was convicted with manslaughter after the latter veered onto the road and was killed in a car crash. Auriol Gray, 49, allegedly gestured in a "hostile and aggressive way" towards 77-year-old Celia Ward telling her to "get off the f****** pavement."
Following the altercation, Ward, a retired midwife, suddenly turned into the road and was mowed down by an oncoming car in Huntingdon on October 20, 2020. The approaching vehicle had "no chance to stop or take avoiding action," and the septuagenarian was pronounced dead at the scene, jurors at Peterborough Crown Court heard. Gray was convicted of manslaughter and will be sentenced on March 2.
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What led to the fatal crash?
On the day of the ill-fated incident, Prosecutor Simon Spence KC said that the two women were approaching each other from opposite directions on the pavement of the town's ring road pavement that afternoon. CCTV footage captured the moment when Gray shouted and gestured at Ward, causing her to lose balance and fall off the bike when tragedy struck, reported Daily Mail.
Whilst emergency services attended to Ward, Gray fled and went to nearby Sainsbury's to purchase groceries. Gray, who has cerebral palsy was brought in by police for questioning, where the woman explained she felt anxious by Ward's "fast" bicycling in the middle of the pavement. She stated she was "anxious that I was going to get hit by it," adding she "may have unintentionally put" out her hand to protect herself. However, after interviewing officer Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard showed her the footage of the incident and questioned her, Gray responded, "I don't know."
A 'difficult and tragic case'
According to the Highway Act 1835, it was illegal to ride a bicycle on the pavement. Violations come with a fine of up to $600. Although in this instance, officers could not "categorically" determine whether the pavement was a shared cycleway. Dollard said, "This was a difficult and tragic case. Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, pavements and cycleways but what is clear is Auriol Gray's response to the presence of Celia on a pedal cycle was totally disproportionate and ultimately found to be unlawful, resulting in Celia's untimely and needless death."
"I am pleased with the verdict and hope it is a stark reminder to all road users to take care and be considerate to each other. I want to take the time to acknowledge Celia's family and thank them for their patience and dignity throughout the entirety of the investigation and trial," Dollard added.