Driver who killed triathlete jailed for four years

A van driver who killed a Team GB triathlete during a bike race in June 2022 has been jailed for four years.

Rebecca Comins, 52, was taking part in a time trial event on the A40 near Raglan, Monmouthshire, when she was shunted off her bike by courier Vasile Barbu.

Barbu, 49, told police he had no idea he had hit the mum-of-two and thought the noise from the impact had been a parcel falling in his van.

A judge at Cardiff Crown Court told him he had made a "catastrophic decision to overtake at the last second".

The court heard Mrs Comins had been riding on a clear sunny day and had a bright flashing light attached to her bike when she was hit.

Barbu, who had driven straight into the back of her rather than move into an empty lane of the dual carriageway, was found guilty of causing her death by dangerous driving following a five day trial.

Having passed an alcohol and drugs test at the scene, he had told police he had seen Mrs Comins and could not explain how he had come to hit her.

"You could very easily have moved to the outside lane to overtake her as other drivers had," said Judge Shoman Khan, who also handed Barbu an additional two year driving ban.

"You could, and should, have given her far more space and yourself far more time."

He described it as a "catastrophic decision to overtake at the last second".

Mrs Comins' son George had also been taking part in the cycling event and was told afterwards his mother had been knocked down - he was en-route to the hospital when he learned she had died.

In a victim impact statement he said he had not ridden since her tragic death.

Mrs Comins' family paid tribute to her, calling her a "wonderful" wife and mother to husband Stephen and children George and Millie.

They added: "Beckie was incredibly kind and an inspiration to so many.

"She loved her family, friends and sport and was always the first person to offer help and advice.

"We are so proud of what she achieved in her life.

"Our lives changed forever when we lost her and this verdict will never bring her back.

“We miss her so much and she will forever be in our hearts."

A Vintage Veteran Champion of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series, Mrs Comins had represented Wales the weekend before the crash.

In a statement, Welsh Triathlon called her "a fierce competitor with a positivity and energy that was infectious.

"She was a multiple Ironman Wales finisher and also represented the Great Britain Age Group Team at the European Championships in Tartu 2018, as well as at the World Championships in Lausanne in 2019," it said.

"She will be sadly missed by everyone within our triathlon community and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family."

Mrs Comins was also a member of the Dragon Tri Club, Newport Phoenix Cycling Club and Caldicot Running Club.

A spokesperson from Gwent Police described the case as “a reminder to everyone who gets behind the wheel that they are in control of a potentially dangerous machine".

"Your responsibility isn’t just to ensure your own safety, but the safety of everyone around you," they said.