Video shows driver ploughing into cyclists near Yeovil

Shocking footage shows an 81-year-old driver ploughing through a group of cyclists and sending them smashing onto the road.

The motorist can be seen overtaking the riders on the busy A359 near Yeovil in Somerset, but passes so close that his front bumper clips their wheels.

Lurching forward as the car hits his bike, one of the cyclists smashes into a friend riding just ahead, sending both crashing to the floor.

Destroyed cycles and injured riders litter the road after the horrifying crash.

But the driver doesn’t stop and was caught on camera zooming off into the distance as if he hadn’t noticed the carnage he had left behind.

Michael Tarrant, of Thornwell Way, Wincanton, admitted dangerous driving at Taunton Crown Court on July 9.

The clip was filmed on a camera attached to the helmet of Martin Wills, who was riding with the group before the incident on November 23 last year.

The motorist smashes into cycles riding down the busy A359 near Yeovil in Somerset

One rider is smashed off her bike by the reckless motorist then crashes into a friend riding ahead

One rider is smashed off her bike by the reckless motorist then crashes into a friend riding ahead

He was the cyclist who got hit by his friend riding behind and his wife Sandra was knocked unconscious in the horror smash.

Describing the traumatic accident, he told SomersetLive: ‘The first I knew was a heavy blow to my right buttock.

‘This sent me off balance and I fell heavily with my bike landing on top of me. One of the riders was lying in the road a few feet away with her wrecked bike next to her.’

Mr Wills miraculously escaped with cuts and bruises, while his wife was left with a broken finger, cracked ribs and a bump on her head.

The shocking moment a cyclist is catapulted into the air as the out-of-control vehicle ploughs through the group of riders

The shocking moment a cyclist is catapulted into the air as the out-of-control vehicle ploughs through the group of riders

Carnage: Destroyed bikes and injured cyclists littered the road after the collision

Carnage: Destroyed bikes and injured cyclists littered the road after the collision

It is not clear what injuries the other cyclists suffered.

He added: ‘Thank goodness we wear helmets.’ 

Tarrant was disqualified from driving for two years and must taken an extended re-test.

He was handed a conditional discharge lasting 18 months and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.



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