A lorry driver who says he was “blinded by the sun” when he fatally struck a cyclist two years ago has been cleared of causing her death by driving carelessly.
52-year-old cyclist Nicolette Lewis, from Llandybie, Carmarthenshire was cycling on the A476 between Temple Bar and Ffairfach on Monday 9 October 2023, at around 5pm, when she was struck by lorry driver John Evans. She died at the scene.
Evans was later charged with causing Mrs Lewis’ death by driving without due care and attention. Speaking at Swansea Crown Court this week, prosecutor Helen Randall told the jury that the 63-year-old lorry driver was “blinded” by the sun as he rounded a corner, before hearing a “bang” when he hit the cyclist.
Randall argued that Evans was driving without due care and attention as he should have been travelling at a speed which would have enabled him to slow down or come to a stop if he could not see properly.
However, the lorry driver, represented by John Hipkin KC, claimed that the crash occurred “within a couple of seconds” of his vision being impaired and that he “couldn’t have done anything differently”.
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Following the conclusion of the three-day trial on Thursday, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, clearing Evans of the charges, the South Wales Guardian reports.
“These are very difficult cases,” Judge Huw Rees told the court following the verdict. “Nobody intentionally does anything to cause harm in a case like this.”
The judge then paid tribute to Mrs Lewis, extending his condolences to her family and friends and noting that her son had “behaved with the utmost dignity” throughout the trial.
Nicolette Lewis (credit: Dyfed-Powys Police)“No words can be said during this very difficult and devastating time,” Mrs Lewis’ family said in a victim impact statement.
“She was our absolute world and rock, a wonderful soul who did not deserve to leave this life so early.
“We know that all she wants for us is to come together and make the most of our lives with a smile as she was always smiling, with a large glass of wine in one hand.
“We shall all raise a glass of wine to Nicolette very soon. Sleep tight you beautiful soul.”