Van driver avoids prison after causing death of Milton Keynes motorcyclist by careless driving

A van driver has avoided a prison sentence after admitting to causing the death of a 46-year-old Milton Keynes man by careless driving.

Ronnie Peters, 46, was riding his Honda motorbike towards Towcester on the A5 in Weedon at around 3.15pm on March 25 last year when a white Mercedes Sprinter van pulled out in front of him in the overtaking lane and threw him into a ditch.

Sadly, he was declared dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

The van driver, 47-year-old courier Michael Cox, continued to drive despite having “a number of opportunities” to stop, Northampton Crown Court heard on today (Wednesday).

Annabel Lenton, prosecuting, said Cox proceeded to drive to the top of the hill - where he had a “clear view” of the collision - and then stop in a lay-by to check his van over before continuing his journey.

Police later located Cox in London Road in Buckingham, where the defendant told officers: “I was going to get back to the yard and call you guys.”

When interviewed, he claimed he had seen the motorbike but believed he had sufficient time to pull out into the overtaking lane. He claimed he was “unaware” that he hit Ronnie’s bike.

Dashcam footage of the collision - from the defendant’s van - was played to the court, where many members of Ronnie’s family attended.

Ronnie’s partner, Gretchen Smith, gave a powerful and moving statement in court that detailed how her life - and her son’s life - has been “fractured by this traumatic event.”

She said that Ronnie gave her “so much love and laughter in an ordinary existence” and detailed how she is often “ambushed by grief” and how her “raw visceral sadness” from one year ago has been replaced with “anger and rage.”

“I just wish that he was here so I can continue sharing my life with the man I have loved for 20 years,” she said tearfully.

Leslie Wild, Ronnie’s sister-in-law, had to put her life on hold to support her devastated sister and nephew. She said that Ronnie’s father-in-law passed away three weeks after Ronnie’s death following his rapid deterioration upon learning of the fatal collision.

Ronnie’s sister, Tracey Bruce, told the court: “A hole has been made in my heart. 46 years of love, joy and happiness and what could have been has been snatched away.”

Cox, from Totternhoe near Dunstable, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at Northampton Magistrates Court earlier this year. He has no previous convictions.

He told the judge: “I wish I could turn back time. I do regret what happened. As far as the sentence is concerned, I will take what’s coming. I know I killed somebody and I have to live with that as well every day.”

Cox was handed a 10 month prison sentence , suspended for one year. He must undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and abide by a curfew for three months. He was disqualified from driving for three years.

Judge Rebecca Crane said she felt she could suspend the sentence because the defendant has a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”