Tractor driver jailed over fatal crash involving cyclists

A tractor driver who killed a woman cyclist and seriously injured her teenage son was using his mobile phone in the moments before the crash, a court was told.

Jonathan Sumner, of Davenport Lane, Arclid, Cheshire, was jailed for eight years and six months at Chester Crown Court on Friday 10 November.

The 33-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following an incident on 27 April 2020.

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Helen Wickham, 53, and her son, who was 19 at the time, were struck by a tractor towing a field roller which was being driven by Sumner along the A54 Holmes Chapel Road, in Brereton Heath, Cheshire, at about 7.25pm.

Sumner claimed he was blinded by the sun, but from witness accounts and revisiting the scene, officers concluded that although the sun was low, he would have had sufficient visibility, with sections of the road in shade.

He would have had time to see the cyclists ahead, as they would have been in view from a distance of about 210m.

Sumner was shown to be travelling in excess of the permitted speed limit of 20mph for the combination of tractor and trailer he was driving.

An examination of his mobile phone showed he had been using it while driving, including viewing images and videos on Snapchat. This activity was shown to be about one minute before the fatal crash.

At the time of the collision, the phone screen was illuminated with a WhatsApp message, although this was not opened at the time.

Devoted mum

Following sentencing, Ms Wickham’s family paid tribute to her in a statement, saying Sumner had taken away a “wonderful, caring, devoted and selfless person”, and had also caused her son to sustain serious, life-changing physical and mental injuries.

Sgt Simon Degg, from Cheshire Constabulary, said: “Sumner was essentially driving a lethal weapon. He was in control of a combined 11 tonnes, yet he thought it was appropriate to be on his mobile phone.”

This collision was “completely avoidable”, he added.

Sumner will be subject to a five-year driving ban after his release.