Cyclist fined £2,500 for causing crash that killed 23-year-old biker

2022-11-24

Cyclist, 59, is fined £2,500 for riding into path of motorbike to cause crash that killed the 23-year-old biker

Garry Kopanycia-Reynolds was cycling in Poole when the incident happened
The 59-year-old collided with biker Callum Clements on December 21, 2021
He had pulled into a road at a junction without checking it was clear of traffic
Mr Clements, 23, died at the scene, while the cyclist was seriously injured
Kopanycia-Reynolds has now been fined £2,500 for causing the collision

A cyclist has been fined £2,500 for riding into the path of a motorbike and causing a crash that killed the 23-year-old rider.

Garry Kopanycia-Reynolds had been cycling in Poole, Dorset, on December 21, 2021, when he pulled out of a junction without checking the road was clear, a court has heard.

The 59-year-old had turned right out of Ringwood Road into Fernside Road in the town at 7.15am, into the path of Callum Clements, who had the right of way.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Clements, a 23-year-old motorcyclist, sustained fatal injuries after being thrown from his vehicle in the crash, and died at the scene.

Kopanycia-Reynolds received life-altering injuries in the incident, and was later charged with riding a cycle on a road without reasonable consideration for others, the Bournemouth Echo reports

The incident took place on Fernside Road in Poole when cyclist Garry Kopanycia-Reynolds pulled out into the at of biker Callum Clements. Pictured: The crash scene from Ringwood Road in Poole

The paper reports that a trial at magistrates’ court today heard that Mr Clements had been travelling at around 40mph in a 30mph limit at the time, but this could not be used as a defence to the charge.

Kopanycia-Reynolds was found guilty of the offence and fined £2,500, the maximum penalty for the offence.

District Judge Michael Snow said: ‘When he (the defendant) gets to the junction what is quite clear having viewed the recordings is he doesn’t stop.

‘He doesn’t obviously check. He just cycles straight on and at the point he makes that turn Callum is in the junction itself.’

As well as the fine, the defendant was ordered to pay £450 costs and a victim surcharge of £190.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: ‘The motorcyclist, 23-year-old Callum Clements, was travelling through the junction toward Danecourt Road when he was involved in a collision with the defendant’s bicycle, which was turning from Ringwood Road into Fernside Road.

‘The collision resulted in the motorcyclist being thrown from his vehicle and he sustained serious injuries.

‘Very sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘Kopanycia-Reynolds also sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.’

PC Leanne Howes, of Dorset Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team (SCIT), said: ‘This is a very sad case that has seen Callum’s family lose their loved one and the cyclist involved has also sustained significant life-changing injuries.

‘Our investigation was able to prove that the defendant clearly turned in front of the motorcycle, which had right of way, and this resulted in the collision.

‘This is a demonstration of the truly awful consequences that can be caused by any road user failing to pay sufficient care and attention.’

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