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Cyclist permanently brain damaged after being hit by hay bale from tractor

January 14, 2021 by SimpleNews Leave a Comment

The 69-year-old cyclist suffered numerous injuries including brain damage and a fractured spine - A farm worker has been convicted after not securing straw bales to his trailer which fell on a cyclist causing him life-long brain damage. The 69-year-old victim suffered a bleed on the brain and was in a coma for 13 days. The man faced numerous other injuries including two fractures to his spine and will never recover fully from the brain damage which has caused partial blindness. Matthew Shapcott from Silverton has been convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after pleading guilty at Exeter Crown Court. He has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 140 hours of unpaid work. In August 2019, the 39-year-old loaded a trailer with huge straw bales and failed to secure them to the trailer, despite having ratchet straps in the vehicle. While driving along a road in Netherexe, near Exeter, one of the bales fell from the trailer striking a passing male cyclist who suffered significant, life-changing injuries as a result. Motor Patrol Constable Hamilton-Schaschke said the devastating incident was entirely avoidable. He said ?The victim?s quality of life and independence has been severely impaired. ?Shapcott?s lax attitude to what was a simple but essential safety measure has had a catastrophic impact upon the victim who has been robbed of what should have been a relaxing retirement.
The cyclist suffered a bleed on the brain and was in a coma for 13 days after being crushed by the hay bale (Picture: Devon and Cornwall Police/Unpixs)

A farm worker who left a cyclist permanently brain damaged when a hay bale fell off a tractor onto his head has avoided jail.

Matthew Shapcott, 40, failed to secure the bales to his trailer, despite having ratchet straps in the vehicle.

One of the bales fell as Shapcott drove along a road in Netherexe, near Exeter, striking a passing cyclist who suffered significant, life-changing injuries.

The 68-year-old man suffered a bleed on the brain and was in a coma for 13 days following the incident in August 2019.

He suffered two fractures to his spine and will never recover from the brain damage, which has caused partial blindness.

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Shapcott, from Silverton, Devon, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 140 hours of unpaid work.

More: UK

Motor Patrol Constable Hamilton-Schaschke said: ‘This devastating incident was all entirely avoidable if Shapcott had simply secured the load.

‘The victim’s quality of life and independence has been severely impaired.

‘Shapcott’s lax attitude to what was a simple but essential safety measure has had a catastrophic impact upon the victim who has been robbed of what should have been a relaxing retirement.

‘This incident should serve as a reminder to motorists to ensure they secure their loads, whatever it is they are transporting, wherever they are going, when travelling on public roads, so tragedies such as this are avoided.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

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Filed Under: UK Tagged With: Crime news, Uk

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