Motorist who knocked cyclist off bike banned

Friday 06 October 2023

A 51-year-old schoolteacher who knocked a cyclist off his bike, leaving him with broken bones, has admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The Magistrate's Court heard that Michaela Julie Jones had caused the accident at 07:00 on 29 November in Rue de la Vallée de St Pierre in St Peter.

Legal adviser Frances Burak, prosecuting, told the Magistrate’s Court that Jones was driving down the hill, with the cyclist just in front of her. It was dark at the time but he was well lit, but Jones did not see him and crashed into him as he was about to turn right.

The cyclist suffered broken ribs, bruised lungs, a broken ankle and broken pelvis.

Advocate Debbie Corbel, defending, pointed out that Jones had administered first aid to the cyclist before the ambulance arrived, and had accepted her responsibility from the outset.

Pictured: The case was heard in the Magistrate's Court.

She said it was her first accident in 32 years of driving, and was due to "a momentary lapse in concentration". Advocate Corbel said Jones was sometimes required to drive a minibus in her job as a schoolteacher, so suggested an endorsement of her licence rather than a disqualification.

But Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke banned her from driving for six months and imposed 70 hours of community service.

He said he took into account Jones’s early guilty plea and previous clean record, but added: “There can be little doubt that the injuries were considerable.”

She was driving at between 25mph and 30mph, and he said: “This was not at low speed, even if it was within the speed limit. This was a serious incident that could have been worse.”

He also ordered Jones to retake the driving test after the six months have elapsed.