Image source, Krawiec family
Dr Marta Krawiec was cycling to the clinic where she worked in Clapham, south-west London, when she was killed
A lorry driver has been found guilty of killing a cyclist who was dragged under the wheels of his vehicle.
Dr Marta Krawiec, 41, was in central London cycling to work when she was hit by Kevin Allen’s HGV, in August 2021.
She suffered multiple injuries in the collision, which happened when he turned left from the middle lane, the Old Bailey heard.
Allen, who denied death by dangerous driving, will be sentenced at a later date.
Jurors were told Dr Krawiec’s death was the result of a “driver error” on 69-year-old Allen’s part, due to his failure to indicate until just before he turned.
‘Clear summer morning’
Judge Richard Marks said it was a “tragic and difficult case”.
Allen, of Forest Town, Nottinghamshire, had been delivering steel to a building site in the capital on the “bright, clear summer morning”, prosecutor previously Paul Casey told the court.
The HGV was stationary in the middle of three lanes at a red light, at the junction of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road.
Dr Krawiec, who was wearing brightly coloured clothes and a helmet, was behind the vehicle to the left.
Allen had not been indicating and was in the lane to move forward, rather than left, jurors heard.
By the time the the light had turned green, Dr Krawiec was level with the lorry. At this point Allen indicated and turned left, clipping the rear wheel of her bicycle and dragging her under his vehicle.
In a statement released after her death, on 4 August 2021, Dr Krawiec’s parents said: “Marta lived helping other people every day. She died on the way to her patients.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved daughter and sister.”
In a police interview Allen said he had checked his mirrors but had not seen Dr Krawiec. He admitted causing her death by careless driving but denied it was dangerous.
Allen was granted continued bail until his sentencing on a date yet to be fixed.
