Van driver heard ‘knock’ after hitting cyclist, court hears

He said he didn’t slow down but moved partially into the right hand lane, estimating having given “a metre” to pass before realising something was wrong.

“I heard a knock but I didn’t think I’d hit her,” he said, adding that he thought the noise may have been parcel moving in the back of his vehicle.

When asked about his driving before the collision he said the steering was “a little heavy” but didn’t believe it was due to the weight of the van.

Mr Barbu, who already has three points on his licence for speeding, said he could not explain how the collision had happened.

A post-mortem examination found Mrs Comins had suffered multiple rib fractures, significant bleeding and a fracture of the left arm, with the cause of death being given as “blunt chest injury”.

The trial continues.