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Dean Thomas cleared of dangerous driving after death of David Cox on Old Thanet Way, Herne Bay

13:23, 28 February 2019

updated: 14:13, 28 February 2019

A jury has decided a motorist was not driving dangerously when he knocked a grandfather off his bicycle in a fatal collision.

But a verdict has yet to be returned on whether Dean Thomas's driving was careless when he struck 71-year-old David Cox on the Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay.

The 44-year-old had denied both charges, and now a jury at Canterbury Crown Court has acquitted him of the more serious offence.

Police and ambulance crews at the scene on January 28.
Police and ambulance crews at the scene on January 28.

But they have yet to return a verdict on the careless driving charge and remain in deliberations.

During his trial, a court was told Thomas, of Central Parade, Herne Bay, was at the wheel of a blue Hyundai i30 at the time of the collision on January 28 last year.

His defence barrister, John Barker, told the jury for a "crucial three seconds" Mr Cox was in Thomas’s blindspot.

David Cox had two children and six grandchildren
David Cox had two children and six grandchildren

Thomas had earlier said in a police interview that his vision had been impaired by bright sunlight.

Forensic investigator PC Robin Youngs disputed the claims, saying Mr Cox’s dark clothes could have made him "more detectable" against the light.

The jury was shown dashcam footage of the moment the grandfather-of-six was struck on the roundabout at about 11.10am.

He was rushed to London’s King’s College Hospital, where he died 12 days later.

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