Van driver banned from the road after hitting cyclist

Claimed he was blinded by the sun

A Douglas van driver's been ordered to do community service after causing serious injuries to a cyclist.

Fifty-two year old Daniel Mark Ward, of Woodbourne Road, appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

He admitted causing serious bodily harm through careless driving on 27 April last year.

Prosecution advocate Hazel Carroon told the hearing Ward was driving up the Ballahutchin Straight, in Glen Vine, just before 8pm.

The court heard the setting sun shone directly into Ward's eyes and he slowed down to use his sun visor but clipped the cyclist with his wing mirror.

He later told police he'd been blinded by the sun and hadn't seen the pushbike tucked in at the side of the road.

The hearing was told the cyclist needed months of treatment after breaking ribs and suffering a collapsed lung during the incident.

Magistrates ordered Ward to do 160 hours of community service and pay £300 towards prosecution costs.

They also banned from the roads for 12 months.