Rebecca Comins, 52, was struck by a Vauxhall Movano van driven by Vasile Barbu on the A40 near Raglan, in Monmouthshire, on June 2, 2022. She sadly died at the scene due to severe chest injuries.
During a trial at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Barbu, 49, from Abergavenny, denied causing death by dangerous driving, but admitted to causing death by careless driving. He was eventually convicted of the more serious charge. At the time of the fatal collision, both Mrs Comins and the defendant were travelling on the eastbound carriageway. The sportswoman was participating in a time trial event organised by Monmouthshire Wheelers, along with other cyclists.
Vasile Barbu
Vasile Barbu(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The section of the A40 where the accident took place was straight. A subsequent probe carried out by a forensic collision investigator concluded that Mrs Comins would have been visible for at least 500 metres before the impact. The court heard that the cyclist was half a metre from the edge of the road, and the outside lane was clear, meaning the defendant could have overtaken her without any problems.
Driver Andrew Allman witnessed the tragic accident in his rear-view mirror after he had passed Mrs Comins. He recounted seeing Barbu collide with Mrs Comin’s bike, resulting in her being flung onto the grass verge. After safely pulling over, he immediately dialled 999. Despite the valiant efforts of passersby to assist Mrs Comins before emergency services arrived, she sadly died at the scene due to her injuries.
Barbu, who stayed at the scene, spoke to police and appeared distressed. Tests confirmed he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and his eyesight was deemed satisfactory, reports Wales Online.
George Comins, the victim’s son, was also participating in the same time trial event as his mother and had previously joined her in representing Great Britain at triathlon events in the World and European Championships. Recounting the tragic day, he said: “At the hospital, I was told mum had been killed and I didn’t know what to do. My father arrived and I couldn’t tell him. Milly (his sister Amelia) was screaming on the other end of the phone, the worst part of it all
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