Family Instructs Irwin Mitchell After ‘One In A Million’ Husband Fatally Injured

The wife of a motorcyclist killed in a crash hours after she was involved in a collision, has spoken of her heartbreak after the driver who killed her husband was jailed.

Father-of-three Lee Marlow was fatally injured when Miles Byrne ploughed into him as he went to tell relatives his wife had escaped injury following a collision she was in earlier that day.

Following the death of Lee, 34, from Walsall, his family instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to take up their case to help secure their future. 

Byrne, 49, of Tamworth, received a three-and-a-half year custodial sentence and was banned from driving for three years following the crash on 17 September 2016, which happened in the Pelsall area of Walsall.  It is anticipated Byrne will serve half his sentence before he is released on licence. In order to drive again he will need to pass an extended re-test.  The defendant, who was working as a delivery driver, originally denied causing death by dangerous driving but changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial. 

Lee had three children, Elliott, 17, 13-year-old Lewis and Darcey, 10, with wife Rebecca.

She said after the case: “We never thought this would happen to our perfect loving family. Ever since that night our lives have changed so much. Every day is a struggle. We go to bed still thinking he is going to come back from work and at meal times I still get the five plates out instead of four.

“We have been to counselling as a family but I am not only dealing with my own grief but the grief of our three children who miss their dad so much it's untrue.“

The couple, who married in Turkey in 2015, both worked at a nursing home. Lee was a maintenance man and Rebecca, 40, a care assistant.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told how Lee was riding his motorbike in a safe manner at the junction of Norton Lane and Vicarage Road when Byrne turned right across his path. Lee suffered catastrophic head and chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rebecca described Lee as a “family man” who loved going fishing with Elliott, and watching Lewis play football.

She added: “As a family we cannot put it into words the impact Lee's death has had on us all.  We used to enjoy family holidays and day trips out.

The plans we had made for the future have just been snatched away from us. All the things that we took for granted are now just treasured memories of a man with a heart of gold. Lee was truly one in a million and would do anything for anyone.”

Rebecca Hearsey, Serious Injury Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell is representing the family.

Expert Opinion

Rebecca, Elliott, Lewis and Darcey have been left devastated by Miles Byrne’s reckless actions.

“While the outcome cannot begin to undo the damage Byrne has caused, we hope the sentence serves as a lesson to others of the tragic and far-reaching consequences of dangerous driving.

"The family are grateful to Central Motorway Police Group at West Midlands Police for its work in investigating this incident as well as pursuing the prosecution for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

“We are now working to help Rebecca provide for her children’s future as they attempt to come to terms with the heartache they have experienced.” Rebecca Hearsey - Senior Associate Solicitor

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