Teenage Herne Bay driver Bethany Mackie charged with death of cyclist Christian Smith on A2990 Old Thanet Way
16:00, 19 September 2014
A teenage girl has been charged with causing the death of a popular cyclist on a marathon fund-raising ride.
Bethany Mackie, 18, is accused of causing the death of Christian Smith by dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop after the crash on the Old Thanet Way.
Mackie, from Beltinge Road, Herne Bay, is due before Canterbury Magistrates Court on October 24.
A 19-year-old man arrested at the same time in connection with the collision has been released without charge.
The crash happened in the early hours of March 22 as Christian Smith from Boughton Aluph was completing the last leg of a 248-mile round Kent ride to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.
The 38-year-old dad-of-three was hit and killed by a car between Herne Bay and Chestfield just two hours short of completing his sponsored ride.
News of his Mr Smith's death led to an outpouring of sympathy and donations to his Just Giving page for Mind raced to more than £80,000.
