Motorist admits causing death of cyclist on A59 (29/9/2010)

A motorist has today admitted causing the death of a cyclist on a busy East Lancashire road.

Brian Creasey, 50, crashed into Ian Hammel as the cyclist was turning into BAE Systems in Samlesbury for the start of a shift.

Police said that Creasey, who was living in Clitheroe at the time, ran a red light in his Skoda Fabia on the A59 and hit Mr Hammel at 7.05am on Wednesday, September 29, last year.

The 53-year-old from Penwortham died in hospital 10 days after the incident.

He suffered serious head, chest and pelvis injuries, police said.

At Preston Crown Court today Creasey, formerly of Riverside, Clitheroe, but now living in Fulwood, Preston, admitted a charge of causing the death of Mr Hammel by driving without due care and attention.

The maximum sentence he can receive from the crown court is five years in jail.

Sgt Mick Young said that at the time of the incident Creasey was travelling from Preston towards the M6 junction at Samlesbury for business in the south of England.

Sgt Young said that there was no suggestion that Creasey was speeding at the time.

Creasey was released on conditional bail pending his sentencing on June 1.

• UPDATE 25/8/11

A motorist who caused the death of a cyclist by failing to stop at traffic lights has been jailed for 20 weeks.

Brian Creasey, 51, knocked down cyclist Ian Hammel near BAE in Samlesbury on the morning of September 29 last year.

Engineer Mr Hammel, 53, from Penwortham, was on his way to work at BAE when the collision occurred on the A59, near the entrance of the site.

He died 10 days later in hospital.

Creasey, of Fulwood Row, Preston, admitted causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Graham Knowles QC had previously held a trial of issue to determine facts in the case which were in dispute.

The judge rejected a claim by Creasey a squeal of his brakes had caused him to panic and therefore accelerate, going through the lights on amber on the A59.

Creasey had told the court he had thought there was enough time to get through the light while it was on amber and added he saw Mr Hammel’s bike at the very last moment.

In his ruling, Judge Knowles said: “It inevitably follows (Creasey) made a decision to go through, against at best an amber light, and to run a very substantial risk of going through against red.

“It isn’t a case where the level of carelessness is low.

“There are aggravating features.”

In a family impact statement read at court yesterday, Mr Hammel was described as a wonderful son and brother. His father said the devastation of the accident had been unbearable.

Richard Dawson, defending Creasey, said “The events have also had a significant impact upon the defendant’s own family.

“He has the deepest and sincere remorse.”

Jailing Creasey, Judge Knowles told him: “You took a risk as you knew the light was changing to red, as it did one-and-a-half seconds before you crossed the line.

“This day and what you did, I am sure, will remain with you and be a burden on your forever.”

Creasey was banned from driving for three years and must take an extended re-test before going back behind the wheel.