Lorry driver avoids immediate jail after killing Shropshire cyclist on A49
A lorry driver who caused the death of a cyclist by careless driving was told his negligence had "terrible consequences".
Mark Baker did not realise he had hit Michael Saunders as he drove his delivery lorry on the A49 through Dorrington during the early hours.
Mr Saunders, a 61-year-old baker, who was cycling back home to Bayston Hill after finishing work in Church Stretton, would have died instantly after being hit last June 23, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Baker, 40, was handed a 26-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months by Judge Jonathon Gosling. He disqualified him from driving for two years and said Baker will have to complete an extended driving test to get his licence back.
Baker had admitted causing death by careless driving at an earlier hearing.
Judge Gosling told Baker: "Your negligence has had terrible consequences. No sentence I pass can put the clock back nor can it give any comfort to Mr Saunders' family and friends. His family have been left bereft by his loss."
Barbara Williams, one of Mr Saunders' sisters,
said: "Our brother was one of five, the second youngest. He was well loved by us all. Michael didn't have a wife or children of his own and made a great effort with his nieces and nephews.
"He was at every family gathering and was the life and soul of the party. Losing Michael has left a void in my life. I'm finding it hard to comprehend why it happened.
"Some days are harder than others because they remind me of Michael and the happy times we had with him."
Mr Huw Evans, for Baker, said he had not seen the cyclist or realised he had hit him. He said: "He can only think that he was dazzled by incoming traffic. His thoughts are very much with the family of Mr Baker and we acknowledge the ordeal they've had to go through."
Baker, of Mountain Ash, Glamorgan, was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and seven sessions of a positive thinking skills activity.
