Driver struck cyclist before second driver ran him over

A driver who used his mobile phone on "multiple occasions" before causing the death of an 81-year-old cyclist has been jailed, while another driver who ran over the cyclist in the road has been handed a suspended sentence.

James Lawley died after he was hit by a Seat Altea car on Oxcliffe Road, Morecambe, Lancashire, before he was then struck by a Mercedes that failed to stop in September 2024.

At Preston Crown Court, Seat driver Matthew Isherwood, 28, of Morecambe, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for five years and two months.

Mercedes driver Kevin Dawson, 64, of Morecambe, also admitted the same offence and was handed an eight-month suspended sentence.

Lancashire Police said when officers arrived at the scene Lawley, from Heysham, was lying critically injured in the road.

Officers were able to identify the Mercedes and it was intercepted on the Bay Gateway, where driver Kevin Dawson was arrested.

Isherwood was arrested at the scene of the crash.

The force said he had been "using his mobile phone on multiple occasions during his journey" and the "dangerous distraction" led to him knocking the 81-year-old from his bike.

Data from Isherwood's mobile phone showed he had begun his journey at 07:41 BST.

He was driving for four minutes before he collided with Lawley but, within those four minutes, he had taken and sent a selfie on Snapchat, sent Snapchat messages to three other people, looked at photos and videos on Instagram and then sent an Instagram message to a fifth person.

Three minutes after the collision, he sent another message on Snapchat saying "I've just hit someone," police said.

He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and seven months.

Meanwhile Dawson told officers he did not know he had hit anyone, instead claiming he thought he had hit some rubble in the road, so did not think he needed to stop.

Det Sgt Matt Davidson said: "James Lawley was a lifelong cyclist and a member of many prominent north west cycling clubs.

"At the time of the collision he was riding to marshal at a cycle race in Hampson Green.

"But instead, as a result of these two collisions, James very sadly lost his life.

"Whilst no sentence will ever be enough to make up for the loss of his life, I welcome the fact that Isherwood and Dawson have been held accountable for their actions on that tragic morning."

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