Wolverhampton man jailed after non-stop fatal collision

November 11, 2014, 1:05 pm

A Wolverhampton man is starting eight and a half years behind bars today after killing a cyclist in a collision in Wolverhampton last year.

Kile Straker was travelling along the Stafford Road in a black Seat Leon at speeds averaging 60mph in the 40mph zone just after 12.30pm on Thursday 11 July 2013. A white van pulled out to overtake keen and well experienced cyclist George Searle just before the Fiveways Island on the inter city section of the road at the junction with Foxs Lane, but Straker, travelling behind, undertook the van and collided with the 74-year-old, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Passers-by rushed to Mr Searles aid, but nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Straker, aged 24 from Armstrong Drive, Dunstall Park, failed to stop at the scene of the collision and the damaged car was recovered later that day at a local garage. Collision investigators carried out extensive enquiries which lead them to execute an arrest warrant for Straker just over six weeks later.  He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured on 26 November after answering bail.

Straker pleaded guilty to the charges and was today sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court to eight and a half years in prison and disqualified from driving for ten years.

PC Claire Byrne, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision has had a devastating effect on the family of Mr Searle, who not only had to deal with the loss of their loved one, but also had to endure a lengthy process to bring Straker to justice.

“We are pleased with the sentence today, which will give him time to contemplate the consequences of his actions.”

After todays sentencing Mr Searles family said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped George on that tragic day, the people who stopped and helped him, the Ambulance Service and the police.

“No sentence will ever bring our Dad, Husband and Grandad back. We will forever miss George, he was a true gentleman, a kind and loving man.”