Jury concludes sleepiness did not cause sleep apnoea sufferer to hit and kill Northumberland cyclist

A sleep apnoea sufferer who mowed down and killed a Northumberland cyclist has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, reports Chronicle Live. Neil Urwin was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with jurors rejecting claims that sleepiness played a part.

Urwin, a 56-year-old forklift truck driver from East Acres, Barrasford, had sought advice from his GP in the months before the collision after suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea, which caused his night-time breathing, and consequently his sleep, to be interrupted.

The day before he hit and killed cyclist Andrew Charlton while driving at 50-55mph on a straight section of the A6079, Urwin had been told by a specialist not to drive. However, Judge John Milford QC said Urwin had simply misjudged his overtaking manoeuvre, adding that jurors had rejected claims he had been overcome with sleepiness and had not seen the cyclist.

Charlton’s wife, Katy, said she had been puzzled as to how Urwin had hit her husband on a sunny summer afternoon on a straight stretch of road. In a victim impact statement she said:

“Eventually the police told me you had been under investigation for sleep apnoea. I later found out you had been advised not to drive. Shame on you. If you had followed their advice Andrew would still be alive.

“What was so important that afternoon that you ignored their advice, got in the car and knocked my husband off his bike and killed him?

“I like to imagine you are a decent man who has made a foolish decision, a decision you will live with for the rest of your life. I’m sure it must be beyond difficult to live every day knowing the consequences of your actions. However please remember you will always be the one that suffered least. Any punishment is nothing compared to our family’s loss.

“There are no winners in this case. Someone said to me recently that to understand all is to forgive all. We are all just humans and it’s in human nature to sometimes make errors of judgement. I just hope some good can come from this and lessons can be learned by others to prevent more tragic accidents.

“It’s time now for both our families to move forward. I know if you could turn back the clock you would and for what it’s worth, I forgive you.”

After the case, Motor Patrols Acting Chief Inspector Dave Little said: “This case shows the tragic consequences of driving too fast and too close to vulnerable road users such as cyclists. It is also a stark reminder that you should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you know you may have a medical condition that could affect your ability to drive.”