Woman jailed after cyclist killed in crash

A driver who caused the death of a cyclist after she struck him in a "wholly avoidable" crash has been jailed.

Ayan Kolah, 38, struck Robert Jones, 64, from Melksham, on the morning of 20 January as he cycled in high-vis clothing on the northbound carriageway of the A350 near Lacock in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Police said when officers arrived at the scene Kolah appeared "erratic" and was found with a small amount of cannabis, a grinder and an open bottle of vodka.

Kolah, from Lowden in Chippenham, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison after she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and failing to provide a specimen at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday.

As well as the prison sentence, Kolah was disqualified from driving for seven years and 11 months.

The force said Kolah was driving a silver Vauxhall Astra when she hit the rear of Jones' bike, which had lights on, causing him to be thrown into a grass verge.

When officers later arrived, police said there was a "strong smell of alcohol", with Kolah was also described as being "unsteady on her feet".

A roadside breath test carried out on Kolah returned a positive result, with a drugs wipe test also coming back positive for cannabis.

Kolah was subsequently arrested and taken to custody in Melksham, where she failed to provide an evidential specimen.

PC James Howells, of the Roads Policing Unit, said the "tragic and wholly avoidable collision" has had "devastating consequences" for the victim's family.

"Despite taking steps to ensure he was visible whilst out on his bike, Robert's life was cut short because of the careless actions of another road user," he said.

"The circumstances of this case demonstrates the potentially catastrophic consequences when that responsibility is not upheld," he added.

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