Retired boxing champion, Gary Mason, has died in a road traffic accident in which a van collided with him as he rode his bicycle in Wallington, South London. The collision is likely to affect the van driver's ability to find cheap van insurance in the future.
After becoming aware that he had struck a cyclist, the van driver pulled over to try to help the casualty and phoned for an ambulance.
Mr Mason was employed as a hospital security guard and was on his way to work when the incident happened. He was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a serious head injury. The van driver was arrested under suspicion of having caused the crash through dangerous driving but has been released on bail until March.
If the driver did not have Vauxhall Combi van insurance, or any other type of vehicle cover, then he might face a fine of £100 and his van may be seized and crushed. If he is uninsured and also found liable for the death of the retired sports champion, then he will be given a maximum two year prison sentence and an unlimited fine.
Hampton Traffic Garage's Road Death Investigation Unit is investigating the crash and one of their senior investigating officers has said, "Although the collision occurred very early in the morning, there would have been other people in the area who may have witnessed the collision".
Any information received may help them to determine who caused the incident.
Whether the van driver is found guilty of dangerous driving or not, if he has to make a claim on his cheap van insurance, any loss of no-claims bonus will mean that it will be difficult for him to find reasonably priced cover in the future.