David Irving cycle death: Southampton minibus driver cleared Published duration 29 January 2014

image copyright Other image caption David Irving died at the scene of the crash in Mountbatten Way

A youth worker has been found not guilty of causing the death of a cyclist who was knocked off his bike on a busy commuter road.

David Irving, 48, of Dorset, died when he came off his bicycle on Mountbatten Way in Southampton on 17 December 2012.

Minibus driver Steve Petterson, 38, was said to have clipped Mr Irving with his wing mirror on the three-lane road.

But a jury sitting at Southampton Crown Court cleared him of causing death by driving without due care and attention.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Irving, from Wimborne, suffered a head injury consistent with being hit by a wing mirror.

He also suffered 38 fractures to his ribs, caused by him being run over, the court heard.

'Smashed to bits'

Mr Irving had been wearing an orange high-visibility jacket, an anklet with LED lights and had lights on his bicycle, the court was told.

His cycle helmet was "smashed to bits", prosecutor Rufus Taylor told the court.

Mr Petterson, of Waterhouse Lane, Southampton, told the court he stopped his Ford Transit minibus after he heard a bang and his wing mirror "slammed against the van", but believed he had hit a bus signpost.

image copyright Google image caption David Irving died when he came off his bicycle on Mountbatten Way

It was only when he found out there had been a serious accident he called the police and told them he believed he might have been involved.

Mr Petterson told police he had been driving slowly as the glare of the sun had made visibility poor.

The court heard that the driver of a Mercedes car had contacted police after the crash as he believed he might have hit Mr Irving.