Cyclist Killed by Distracted Dentist Who Still Avoided Jail

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A dentist, distracted by devastating news about her father’s critical condition while driving, caused a fatal crash that took the life of a pensioner but has avoided jail. Lucinda Collins was on a hands-free call with her mother when she failed to stop at a junction, colliding with another vehicle and pushing it into the path of 75-year-old retired builder Roger Dutton. The tragic incident occurred as Collins was driving her three-year-old daughter to a play date in Cheshire.

Collins, 40, admitted to causing death by dangerous driving after missing stop signs and failing to brake while traveling at around 40mph. The collision killed Mr. Dutton, a much-loved father, grandfather, and active cycling club member, at a junction on Brown Heath Road between Waverton and Christleton. At Chester Crown Court, members of Mr. Dutton’s family spoke about the profound impact of Collins’s actions before she was sentenced.

Judge Stephen Everett acknowledged the painful irony of the situation, noting that Collins had been distracted by news of her father’s impending death and, through her actions, caused a similar loss to Mr. Dutton’s family. Despite the gravity of the incident, the judge decided against immediate custody due to Collins’s clean record and lack of danger to the public. She received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, a five-year driving ban, 250 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay court costs.

Prosecutor James Coutts described Mr. Dutton as the oldest and central member of the Simply Grey Cycling Club who was enjoying a sunny ride when the collision occurred. Collins admitted at the scene that she had lost concentration after receiving the call about her father’s health, which led her to take a wrong turn through the countryside. The court heard that Mr. Dutton was a remarkable man, challenging stereotypes of his age, living a fulfilling and active retirement.

In a heartfelt statement, Mr. Dutton’s widow, Dale, shared the immense void left by his death, recalling their nearly 46 years of marriage and the joy he brought to their lives. “The emptiness is so big. We will never see his smiling face or hear his laughter again. The loss will be with us forever,” she said. Their son Joel called his father his hero and best friend, while daughter Olivia directly addressed Collins, expressing the deep pain her family continues to endure.

The court proceedings highlighted the tragic consequences of a moment’s distraction behind the wheel and the lasting grief experienced by those left behind. Collins’s sentence reflects the court’s balancing of her personal circumstances with the serious outcome of her actions. The community continues to remember Mr. Dutton as a vibrant figure whose life was cut short on a summer day.