South Wales Widow And Daughters Join Road Accident Lawyers In Warning Of Consequences Of Not Taking Care On The Roads

The devastated family of a dad-of-three who was killed in a crash while cycling home from work have issued a road safety plea.

Donald Mitchell, from Bridgend, South Wales, was travelling on the A48 near Laleston when he was struck from behind by a Volvo.

He died at the scene, aged 61, having sustained severe injuries.

Donald’s wife Sian and the couple’s three daughters Hannah, 32, Eluned, 29 and Siriol Mitchell, 25, are now joining with expert road accident lawyers at Irwin Mitchell in marking Bike Week by warning of the consequences of not taking care on the roads.  It comes after the Volvo driver pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Expert Opinion

“The past two-and-a-half years have been incredibly difficult for Sian and the couple’s daughters who are all understandably struggling to come to terms with their tragic loss.

“Sadly, through our work we too often come across families left facing the devastating consequences of the actions of others on the roads. What happened to Donald is a stark reminder of this and continues to have a profound impact on his loved ones.

“In the meantime, we join Sian, Hannah, Eluned and Siriol in urging all road users to stay safe and take care at all times.” Deborah Rose, Serious Injury lawyer

Donald, an academic librarian and experienced cyclist, was riding home from his work when the incident happened on 17 December 2020.  He was wearing high-visibility clothing and had flashing lights on the back of his bike and his helmet.

At the time of Donald’s death, he and Sian, a veterinary surgeon, had been married for almost 35 years.  The couple enjoyed travelling and had been looking forward to spending retirement together.

When Donald was late returning home Sian went to look for him, expecting him to have had a puncture and be out of phone signal. It was only when seeing the A48 was closed that she began to panic. She was subsequently told by the police that Donald had died in the crash.

Sian said: “I keep reliving that day in my head.  It was just like any other, and Donald and I had been looking forward to Christmas with our girls.  But by that evening, my whole world had been torn apart.

“Donald was my best friend as well as my husband.  We’d been through everything together and it’s heart-breaking that he’s no longer here.

“The only way I can cope with what’s happened is because of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, trusting Him each day and by keeping busy.

“Donald was an amazing dad to our three girls The devastation of losing him has changed all our lives so much.

“I hope that by sharing our story we can make others see how important it is to be safe and be careful and considerate on the roads.  I wouldn’t want any other family to go through the pain and grief we have.”

She added: “All car drivers must remember that in any incident involving cars and cyclists, the cyclist is always more vulnerable. Drivers must take care when overtaking cyclists, treating them as a car rather than rushing to get past as quickly as possible, hardly giving them any room.

“The Highway Code has also recently changed stating that drivers must leave at least 1.5m when overtaking cyclists.”

In December 2022, the driver of the Volvo was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was banned from driving for 10 years.

Bike Week runs from 5-11 June. It’s organised by Cycling UK which promotes the health and environmental benefits of cycling while campaigning for improve safety.

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