DORCHESTER, England, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A speeding bicyclist who collided with an elderly man in Dorchester, England, who later died, was sentenced to seven months in prison, officials said Wednesday.
The Times of London online reported Darren Hall, a 20-year-old Dorchester supermarket worker, was convicted of the 19th century offense of "wanton and furious" driving. His fast-paced pedaling on a sidewalk caused him to collide on Aug. 8, 2008 with a pedestrian, 84-year-old Ronald Turner of Dorchester, causing Turner to fall and suffer head injuries, officials charged.
Turner was taken to Dorset County Hospital, but died on Aug. 21.
Turner's daughter, Gillian Muhl, said in a statement, "The cyclist was described as riding like a bat out of hell. Mr. Turner stood no chance of avoiding a collision."
Dorchester police Sgt. Tony Burden said there was no law pertaining to causing death by dangerous cycling, The Times reported.
The only other modern-day alternative would have been the charge of careless and dangerous driving, which the Crown Prosecution Service did not consider to be severe enough, The Times said. The CPS therefore opted for the archaic law that can be more easily applied to off-road incidents.
