Pedestrian, 49, who cursed at 77-year-old cyclist on sidewalk who then drove into road and was hit by car arrives at court for sentencing after conviction for manslaughter
- Auriol Grey, 49, raised her hand to cyclist Celia Ward, 77, in Huntingdon, Cambs
- Retired midwife Mrs Ward fell on the road and was killed in a car accident
A woman who raised her hand to an elderly cyclist on the sidewalk shortly before she was fatally hit by a car has faced conviction after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Auriol Grey, 49, angrily gestured at 77-year-old Celia Ward and told her to ‘get off the damn curb’ as she cycled in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in October 2020.
CCTV footage showed how, within seconds of being berated by Grey, retired midwife Mrs Ward drove onto the road before being hit by a car that failed to stop.
Peterborough Crown Court previously learned that Gray fled the scene on foot when emergency services arrived, before running errands at a nearby Sainsbury’s. Mrs. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gray, who suffers from cerebral palsy, faces the possibility of a long prison sentence today after she was found guilty of manslaughter after a trial.
Auriol Gray (pictured arriving for sentencing today), 49, angrily swiped at 77-year-old Celia Ward and told her to ‘get off the goddamn curb’, Peterborough Crown Court heard
Celia Ward, 77, (pictured with husband David) died in the hit-and-run in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after Auriol Gray, 49, raised her hand and cursed as she passed her on the pavement
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC previously said the two women passed each other when Gray “gestured in a hostile and aggressive manner” to Ms Ward.
After officers brought her in for questioning, Gray explained that she was visually impaired and felt “anxious” because the bike was traveling “fast” down the sidewalk.
She added that she could have raised her hand “unintentionally.”
The Highway Act 1835 makes it illegal to cycle on pavement, with a fine of up to £500.
In this case, however, officers were unable to determine whether the sidewalk was a shared bike path.
Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard said, “This was a difficult and tragic case. Everyone will have their own opinion about cyclists, sidewalks and bike lanes, but what is clear is that Auriol Gray’s reaction to Celia’s presence on a bicycle was totally disproportionate and ultimately found to be illegal, resulting in Celia’s untimely and unnecessary death .
“I am happy with the verdict and hope it serves as a strong reminder to all road users to be careful and considerate of each other.
“I want to take the time to acknowledge Celia’s family and thank them for their patience and dignity throughout the investigation and process.”
It is estimated that an average of two cyclists per week die in road accidents, while another 84 are seriously injured.
CCTV footage showed Gray (pictured arriving at court on Thursday), who has cerebral palsy, raising her hand as Ms Ward lost her footing and landed on the road
Footage showed Ms Ward losing her balance and landing on the road where she was hit by a car
The majority of incidents occur on rural roads and about half occur when a car collides with a cyclist.
The number of cyclists killed in road accidents reached a 14-year high in 2020, when 140 deaths were a record, the highest figure since 2006.
The average person reportedly cycles 90 miles each year, with 47 percent of adults owning a bicycle or having access to one.
A parliamentary study published in 2021 found that fatal collisions involving cyclists caused by pedestrians were extremely rare, with only five such incidents occurring in 2019.
Of the pedestrians killed in traffic accidents between 2005 and 2018, only six were killed by a cyclist, while 548 were killed by vehicles.
