11 Oct 2013

Driver who killed cyclist gets 1 year jail and fine

5:04 pm on 11 October 2013

A man who killed a cyclist after colliding with a group of riders near Hamilton in July has been sent to jail for 12 months.

Nicholas Dryland, 22, pleaded guilty in the Hamilton District Court to charges of aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle causing death and two charges of careless driving causing injury.

The victim, Craig Goulsbro, 50, was riding with 10 other cyclists early in the evening when he was clipped by Dryland's car and sent flying into the vehicle.

He suffered serious head injuries and died two days later.

The court heard Dryland had three previous careless driving convictions and wasn't wearing his glasses when driving.

Judge Philip Connell told him the current and previous convictions clearly show he is either a grossly incompetent driver or someone devoid of any consideration of others on the road.

He also ordered Dryland to pay reparation of $11,000 and disqualified him from driving for two-and-a-half years.