Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist killed by driver for damaging wing mirror, court told

A CYCLIST was knocked down and killed in a suspected revenge attack after he damaged a motorist's wing mirror, a court has heard.

The car driver, Sean Fitzgerald, aged 35, of Bennetts Road North, Keresley, Coventry, is charged with murder.

He is alleged to have deliberately mounted the pavement and driven at warehouseman Paul Webb on Thursday afternoon.

The 42-year-old victim suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene in Bennetts Road South, Keresley, as he cycled home from work at the Co-op distribution centre at Prologis Park.

Coventry magistrates court was told Fitzgerald reacted after his nearside mirror was knocked off by a cyclist moments earlier, but it is not clear if the victim was the man responsible.

Emma Garnett, prosecuting, said: “He was angry that his wing mirror was knocked off.

Two more pages here: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/04/21/cyclist-killed-by-driver-for-damaging-wing-mirror-court-told-92746-23432533/

Nasty story. So a mirror was worth a man's life?? I am glad the police are charging him with murder.

Let this be a lesson to those of us who are tempted to whack a mirror with a U-lock. (Even though it is not clear that this cyclist did so). If you do feel the need... for God's sake watch your back and be prepared for some pretty serious evasive manoeuvres.

The only time I've seen someone do something similar to a car was when the driver was being reckless and endangering our lives. I'm curious how much of an accident this was, I know my messenger bag has accidentally hit the mirror of a car to my left.

Oh shoot they actually charged him with murder. I guess he forgot the line "I didn't see him, he came out of nowhere, he swerved into me"

Oh shoot they actually charged him with murder. I guess he forgot the line "I didn't see him, he came out of nowhere, he swerved into me"

It's got to be somewhat difficult to pull off the "I didn't see him" line when you drove your vehicle up on the pavement. (sidewalk) RIP Mr. Webb.

Seems that bad things can happen in that cycling utopia called Europe too...who woulda thunk it?

RIP, Mr. Webb.

Chip- Britain is more 'vc' than 'european cycling utopia'. low ridership, high rate of car/bike accidents relative to countries like Germany, Denmark, the netherlands.

road rage like the USA.

Indeed; the UK is almost as backwards as the US in terms of cycling infrastructure and autocentric development.

Chipcom, I know of a few Englishmen who would be insulted that you grouped them with those damned continentals.

But yeah, cycling in Britain is more like cycling here than say The Netherlands or Germany.

Seems that bad things can happen in that cycling utopia called Europe too...who woulda thunk it?

Just one problem with your statement Chip... this is from the UK... you know, the birthplace of Forester and some other vehicular cyclists... You know the place where the modal ride share for cyclists is just about the same as it is for the United States... well less than 2%. (with the exception of London, where auto traffic has been limited, due to lack of space) (ironic how these "key cities" such as London and here, NYC have come to realize that the auto perhaps is not "king")

While the UK is part of the EU, it is hardly the "cycling utopia" of Copenhagen, or Amsterdam, or Finland or Germany... all locations where there are laws that protect the "vulnerable road user."

Nope, the UK is much more like the US and Australia... Low cyclist rider share and cars "rule the road."

And sadly, it is nothing like the old UK that Forester has pictured in the mind of his youth, when "everyone" rode bikes while leaving the factory. Not hardly at all.

Indeed; the UK is almost as backwards as the US in terms of cycling infrastructure and autocentric development.

i think the UK is more backwards.
they drive on the wrong side of the road! :P
of course, those UK guys think WE are the backwards ones... pitching / catching i suppose.

Just one problem with your statement Chip... this is from the UK... you know, the birthplace of Forester and some other vehicular cyclists... You know the place where the modal ride share for cyclists is just about the same as it is for the United States... well less than 2%. (with the exception of London, where auto traffic has been limited, due to lack of space) (ironic how these "key cities" such as London and here, NYC have come to realize that the auto perhaps is not "king")

While the UK is part of the EU, it is hardly the "cycling utopia" of Copenhagen, or Amsterdam, or Finland or Germany... all locations where there are laws that protect the "vulnerable road user."

Nope, the UK is much more like the US and Australia... Low cyclist rider share and cars "rule the road."

And sadly, it is nothing like the old UK that Forester has pictured in the mind of his youth, when "everyone" rode bikes while leaving the factory. Not hardly at all.

germany is far from cycling 'utopia.'

germany is far from cycling 'utopia.'

I liked it; even more than cycling in the Netherlands. Also didn't have to worry so much about theft in the cities, a chintzy lock was good enough for 10 years of cycling.

germany is far from cycling 'utopia.'

Compared to say the US or UK?

And no, I have not ridden there. But I do know they have vulnerable road user laws...

For "utopia," Finland is the top of my list. Unbelievable separate bicycle network. Imagine the US Freeway system, but for bikes... and actually even more thorough.

Compared to say the US or UK?

And no, I have not ridden there. But I do know they have vulnerable road user laws...

For "utopia," Finland is the top of my list. Unbelievable separate bicycle network. Imagine the US Freeway system, but for bikes... and actually even more thorough.

we need an emote for drooling

Called it.

He is alleged to have deliberately mounted the pavement and driven at warehouseman Paul Webb on Thursday afternoon.

Did anyone else catch that? Across the pond pavement means sidewalk. So the driver drove off the road, up a curb and onto the sidewalk to hit this cyclist. He damn well better be charged with murder.

Between a few friends who have travelled there, reading Cycling + mag a few times a year, and some internet information like this, accounts of cycling conditions and driver attitudes in the UK make me grateful for living in the Northwestern US.