Tragedy as pensioner, 81, on tricycle is run over TWICE: Two drivers including man who took Snapchat selfies moments before crash are jailed for killing cyclist
An 81-year-old cyclist was killed after being struck by a driver who had been taking Snapchat selfies and sending messages moments before the collision – before he was tragically run over a second time as he lay helpless in the road.
James Lawley, a lifelong cyclist and respected member of several prominent north west cycling clubs, was out on an early morning ride on his distinctive blue racing tricycle when disaster struck on a road in Morecambe.
The pensioner was hit by a black Seat Altea being driven by Matthew Isherwood, 28, who investigators later discovered had spent much of his four-minute journey using social media on his mobile phone.
The impact threw Mr Lawley into the carriageway on Oxcliffe Road in Heaton-with-Oxcliffe shortly before 7.45am on September 21 last year.
Moments later, as the 81-year-old lay critically injured on the tarmac, he was run over again by a silver Mercedes C200 driven by Kevin Dawson, 64.
Despite the efforts of emergency services who rushed to the scene, Mr Lawley, from Heysham, was pronounced dead at the roadside.
At Preston Crown Court today, both motorists were sentenced for their roles in the tragedy.
James Lawley, a lifelong cyclist and respected member of several prominent North West cycling clubs, was out on an early morning ride on his distinctive blue racing tricycle when disaster struck on a road in Morecambe
CCTV of the silver Mercedes C200 driven by Kevin Dawson that hit Mr Lawley
The impact threw Mr Lawley into the carriageway on Oxcliffe Road in Heaton-with-Oxcliffe shortly before 7.45am on September 21 last year
Isherwood, from Morecambe, was jailed for five years and two months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
The 28-year-old was also banned from driving for seven years and seven months and must pass an extended re-test before being allowed back behind the wheel.
Dawson was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 20 months after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.
He was also handed a 26-week electronic curfew, banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pass an extended driving test before regaining his licence.
The court heard disturbing details about Isherwood’s use of his mobile phone in the minutes leading up to the fatal collision.
Digital forensic analysis revealed he began his journey at 7.41am.
In the four minutes before hitting Mr Lawley, he took and sent a selfie on Snapchat, sent Snapchat messages to three different people, viewed photos and videos on Instagram and then sent an Instagram message to a fifth person just seconds before the collision.
Three minutes after the crash, he sent another Snapchat message stating: ‘I’ve just hit someone’.
CCTV footage shown during the investigation captured Mr Lawley riding his tricycle along the road shortly before the collision.
Isherwood’s vehicle can then be seen approaching, followed by Dawson’s Mercedes.
Investigators found that while other motorists managed to steer around the injured cyclist as he lay in the road, Dawson failed to do so.
Even more remarkably, Dawson did not stop after driving over Mr Lawley.
Matthew Isherwood’s Snapchat selfie moments before the crash
Moments later, as the 81-year-old lay critically injured on the tarmac, he was run over again by a silver Mercedes C200 driven by Kevin Dawson, 64 (right)
The pensioner was hit by a black Seat Altea being driven by Matthew Isherwood, 28, who investigators later discovered had spent much of his four-minute journey using social media on his mobile phone
Instead, he continued his journey, later telling officers he believed he had driven over rubble in the road rather than a person.
Roads Policing Unit officers intercepted his Mercedes on the Bay Gateway and arrested him. Isherwood was arrested at the scene.
A comprehensive investigation followed, involving collision reconstruction experts, forensic evidence and digital analysis of Isherwood’s phone activity.
Detective Sgt Matt Davidson, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, condemned the actions of both drivers.
He said: ‘Here I find myself leading yet another investigation into the death of person caused by a driver using their mobile phone whilst driving.
‘The dangers of doing so couldn’t be clearer but we still find motorists who take unnecessary and unlawful risks behind the wheel which can, and does, lead to devastating consequences.
‘Kevin Dawson’s actions also played a significant part in the death of James Lawley.
‘Other vehicles ahead of him negotiated around James as he lay in the road, but due to his inattention behind the wheel Dawson did not.
Matthew Isherwood, from Morecambe, was jailed for five years and two months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving
Kevin Dawson did not stop after driving over Mr Lawley, he later told officers he believed he had driven over rubble in the road rather than a person
‘The poor standard of his driving was further demonstrated by his lack of recognition of what had occurred as he left the scene.
‘James Lawley was a lifelong cyclist and a member of many prominent north west cycling clubs. At the time of the collision he was riding to marshal at a cycle race in Hampson Green.
‘But instead, as a result of these two collisions, James very sadly lost his life. Whilst no sentence will ever be enough to make up for the loss of his life, I welcome the fact that Isherwood and Dawson have been held accountable for their actions on that tragic morning.
‘My hope is that this devastating case will act as an impactful reminder of the fatal consequences of using your mobile phone whilst driving, driving dangerously and carelessly, and the lifelong impact these actions can have on all people involved.’
