Cycle death driver 'not speeding'

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An inquest into the deaths of four cycling club members killed by an out-of-control car has heard the driver told police he was not speeding.

A statement to police by motorist Robert Harris, 47, from Abergele, Conwy, was read to the inquest jury.

In it, he also said he thought he had missed the group and then heard about their deaths whilst in the ambulance.

The cyclists - members of Rhyl Cycling Club - died on the A547 near Abergele in January 2006.

Thomas Harland, 14, Maurice Broadbent, 61, Dave Horrocks, 55, and Wayne Wilkes, 42, were killed when the car spun sideways into their path on 8 January 2006.

Mr Harris was interviewed three days after the fatal crash.

Scraped ice

He said his Toyota Corolla car suddenly went out of control.

Although Mr Harris told police he had scraped ice off his car for five minutes before setting off on his journey, he said the road had appeared to be clear until just moments before the crash.

He said when he saw the cyclists he knew he had to avoid them, but there was nothing he could do.

Mr Harris also said when his car came to a stop he thought he had missed the group. It was only when he got out of his car he saw two of the cyclists lying in the road.

The cyclists had set off on a 60-mile trip towards the Great Orme

Mr Harris told detectives he had gone over to them but did not known what to do to help.

He also said it was only when he was in an ambulance that he heard over a police radio that four people had died.

The cyclists had not long set out on a 60-mile Sunday club ride to Llandudno's Great Orme.

On Thursday Jonathan Harland told the inquest how he and his son, Thomas had been cycling alongside each other.

He recalled seeing a car heading for the cyclists sideways on. He estimated its speed at 60mph or more.

Earlier in the inquest, the jury at Abergele Town Hall heard the road had not been gritted on the morning of the tragedy.

After the accident, Mr Harris was fined £180 with £35 costs and given six points on his licence after admitting having defective tyres.

Magistrates in Llandudno decided in August 2006 that the defective tyres on the car had not been a factor in the collision.

The inquest, which is expected to last about a month, continues.