A pensioner riding his tricycle was killed by a motorist who had been taking Snapchat selfies and texting seconds before crashing into him. James Lawley, 81, was on a morning bike ride on his racing blue tricycle when he was struck by 28-year-old Matthew Isherwood in a black Seat Altea, causing him to fall into the road. A trial at Preston Crown Court revealed Isherwood was on his phone texting on social media apps Snapchat and Instagram.
Tragically, a short time later, the innocent pensioner was then run over by a silver Mercedes C200, driven by Kevin Dawson, whilst lying helplessly on the tarmac. Emergency services scrambled to the scene of the incident, which happened at around 7.45am on September 21, 2024, on Oxcliffe Road in Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Morecambe. There, they discovered Lawley on the road with critical injuries. Despite their best efforts, Lawley, from Heysham, tragically passed away at the scene.
Sentences handed down
On Monday, June 8, both men were sentenced to prison at Preston Crown Court. Isherwood, of Granville Road, Morecambe, was sentenced to 5 years and 2 months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and seven months, and must pass an extended retest to drive again. Dawson, of Hale Carr Lane, Morecambe, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 20 months after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving. He was also given a 26-week electronic curfew, disqualified from driving for 18 months, and must pass an extended retest.
Investigation details
CCTV footage showed Lawley riding his tricycle on the morning of the fatal incident. Moments later, Isherwood can be seen followed by Dawson. Isherwood sent a text saying 'I've hit someone'. Dawson did not stop after running over Lawley, but officers identified the Mercedes and intercepted it on the Bay Gateway, where he was arrested. Isherwood was arrested at the scene. A comprehensive investigation included forensic collision evidence, reconstruction work, and digital forensic inquiries. It established that Isherwood was using his mobile phone on multiple occasions during his journey that morning.
Disturbing data from Isherwood's mobile phone showed he started his journey at 7:41am. He was only driving for four minutes before colliding with James, but within those four minutes he took and sent a selfie on Snapchat. He also sent Snapchat messages to three other people, looked at photos and videos on Instagram, and then sent an Instagram message to a fifth person just seconds prior to the collision. Three minutes after the collision, he sent another message on Snapchat saying: 'I've just hit someone.'
Dawson told officers he did not know he had hit James, instead claiming he thought he had hit some rubble in the road, so did not think he needed to stop.
Police statement
Detective Sgt Matt Davidson, from Lancashire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'Here I find myself leading yet another investigation into the death of a person caused by a driver using their mobile phone whilst driving. The dangers of doing so couldn't be clearer, but we still find motorists who take unnecessary and unlawful risks behind the wheel which can, and does, lead to devastating consequences.'
'Kevin Dawson's actions also played a significant part in the death of James Lawley. Other vehicles ahead of him negotiated around James as he lay in the road, but due to his inattention behind the wheel Dawson did not. The poor standard of his driving was further demonstrated by his lack of recognition of what had occurred as he left the scene.'
'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. My hope is that this devastating case will act as an impactful reminder of the fatal consequences of using your mobile phone whilst driving, driving dangerously and carelessly, and the lifelong impact these actions can have on all people involved.'
