Man Suffered Catastrophic Injuries When Van Turned Across His Path

The wife of a motorcyclist fatally injured in a crash is backing a campaign to reduce the number of bike riders killed on the roads.

Lee Marlow suffered catastrophic head and chest injuries when he was hit by a delivery van driver in the Pelsall area of Walsall. The 34-year-old was on his way to tell relatives that his wife, Rebecca, had avoided injury following a collision she was involved in earlier that day.

Following the collision Rebecca, 41, instructed specialist road accident lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the incident.

The van driver received a three-and-a-half year custodial sentence and was banned from driving for three years.

Rebecca has now joined her legal team at Irwin Mitchell in supporting Road Safety Week. This year the annual campaign is urging motorists to be ‘Bike Smart’ to help reduce the number of motorcyclists and cyclists injured or killed in collisions.

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“Through our work we often see the consequences of what can happen when vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists are involved in collisions.

“Sadly Rebecca and the rest of the family continue to pay the ultimate price because of the carless actions of the driver involved in the collision.

“We join Rebecca in supporting Road Safety Week and hope that the campaign reinforces the responsibility that all of us have to keep ourselves and others safe from harm on the road.” Rebecca Hearsey - Senior Associate Solicitor

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Lee and Rebecca married in Turkey in 2015. The couple had three children Elliott, 18, 14-year-old Lewis and Darcey, 11.

Lee was riding his motorbike in a safe manner at the junction of Norton Lane and Vicarage Road on 17 September, 2016, when the van driver turned right across his path, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told last year. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene.

His wife, Rebecca, a care assistant said: “Whilst more than two years have passed since Lee’s death the terrible grief and pain our family continues to feel is as fresh now as it was then.

“Ever since that day our lives have changed so much. Every day is a struggle. There are days when we still think Lee is going to come back from work.

“Lee was such a careful rider but all the experience in the world could not prepare him for what happened that day.

“Nothing will bring him back, but if by campaigning to raise awareness of the need for drivers to be aware of motorcyclists our family can save a life, at least then his death will not have been totally in vain.”

The van driver originally denied causing death by dangerous driving but changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial. He was jailed last September.

Road Safety Week runs from 19-25 November. This year’s ‘Bike Smart’ theme aims to reduce the number of cyclists and motorcyclist killed or injured on the roads.

In 2016 there were 18,477 cyclist casualties and 19,297 motorcyclist casualties, according to the Department for Transport.