It has been very difficult for me to read this as I was unfortunate enough to have a very similar incident nearly 3 years ago.

I was cycling down hill along a straight road and I could see a van approaching from the opposite direction. The van driver began to signal right to turn into a side road so I made eye contact with the driver, and I carried on feeling confident he would not turn in to the junction across my path. To my horror he did turn in, and despite feeling like an eternity before the collision I simply could not react in time.

I don't remember much beyond the collision but I think my bike absorbed much of the energy from the impact as it was left disintegrated, and the frame severely buckled. Miraculously my head did not make contact with the van, how I am still unsure of, but my shoulder and legs were not so lucky. My collar bone fractured into 5 pieces as I hit the van. After healing my right shoulder was about 2-3 inches shorter than the left. I have since had that rectified by a very skilled surgeon leaving me with a healthy amount of metal in my shoulder.

The van driver claimed he didn't see me despite the fact we made eye contact. He was charged with dangerous driving, and his punishment a driver improvement course and a two year suspended sentence.

I will never forget seeing my family when they got to the hospital, it wasn't until that point I realised quite how horrendous the incident had been.

Cycling was the biggest pleasure in my life but I am now too afraid to cycle on the road. I can not run the risk of this happening again leaving my children without a father.

I would like Jason's family, particularly his wife and children, to know how sorry I am for their loss.

Of course it was an accident Hum an with no brain, but that does not mean the driver does not carry any consequences. If the cyclist saw or not the truck driver, the driver MUST have at least applied the brakes and hit the horn which he did not. See it as if it would have been running across the street, the least any judge would look at is if brakes were applied, but to carry (in this example) the body of s child for a few meters and then realize I may have something underneath the car is totally outrageous. Yes, accidents do happen, but when you are behind the wheel of a car there is also something called responsibility. The sentence given to the driver is an insult to the victims who are suffering such tragedy.

Caroline

Having come to this forum late, I felt compelled to echo aracer and offer sincere apologies from all right-thinking cyclists who contribute to this site for your having to tolerate reading stupid and insensitive comments such as human's. Your loss is also cycling's loss, though infinitely less acute for the rest of us. It makes one wonder how many more cyclists, who will be less celebrated than your Jason but whose loss will be as dreadfully felt by somebody, will suffer at the wilful negligence of drivers before proper action is taken against those responsible.

Caroline - my apologies for stirring up "human" and prompting him to post all that rubbish. Most if not all cyclists on here (I have to wonder if he is actually a cyclist) very much agree and sympathise with you, and I'm sure they'd join me in wishing you hadn't had to read all that has been written here. No apologies needed for that outpouring of emotions - I hope time can eventually soften the pain for you.

I think that is enough said - I certainly can't and wouldn't want to add anything. I hope others who have posted their misguided views can also respect that point.

To the post by human.

How dare you compare the killing of my Husband and the Father of my Children to that as something as trivial as spilling a glass of juice.

It is Robert Mctaggerts fault that Jason is dead. FACT!

Driver was not paying full attention to the road for a FULL 16 SECONDS. FACT!

Don`t let the name Carrs Corner confuse you this is a STRAIGHT BIT OF ROAD. FACT!

Driver should have seen Jason as THE DRIVER BEHIND Mctaggert DID. FACT!

No skid marks found on the road from the driver or Jason as Jason had no time to react and the driver having heard a bang and feel a jolt did not apply his breaks quickly like any careful driver would but came to a leisurely stop 30 yards down the road. FACT!

If Jason was wearing a helmet he would have been saved. RUBBISH! THE INJURY JASON SUSTAINED NO HELMET WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM. I HAVE SEEN THE POST MORTEM RESULTS SADLY.FACT!

Jason was in the hunched down position NOT ON HIS ROAD BIKE. THE OTHER DRIVER COULD SEE JASON OVER THE TOP OF THE H.C VAN. FACT!

To say this was partly Jason`s fault as he was not paying full attention to the road at the junction I don`t think so you can ask almost every cyclist who has raced or cycled with Jason and you would know there isn`t a more competent cyclist out there.FACT!

If Mctaggert had entered the correct lane of the junction and not the exit lane then Jason might have been more prepared and might even still be here. FACT!

ACCIDENT I DON`T THINK SO. INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. FACT!

THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON TO BLAME AND HE HAS PLED GUILTY TO HIS PETTY CHARGE.FACT!

THERE IS ONLY ONE INNOCENT PERSON IN THIS AND SADLY HE IS NO LONGER WITH US. FACT!

Is there a reason you keep saying cyclist and not his name JASON or does that make it a bit to personal. SADLY FOR US JASON`S DEATH IS VERY PERSONAL.FACT!

I apoligise to other people on this site if this sounds like a rant as I had intended to keep a dignifide silence but I can not sit back and let people speak about Jason like that. As most of you know he is an amazing cyclist but he is also a great Husband and it is a privilage to call him my Husband.

I don`t have any more to say on the subject.