A driver has been jailed a cyclist died following a horror crash. The incident was reported by a member of the public who had witnessed the crash, which involved a van and a cyclist.
The cyclist, 40-year-old Aran Potkin from Farnham died at the scene. A witness described how they had seen the van driving on the inside lane before swerving to the right.
On Tuesday, October 24 2023, emergency services were called to the westbound carriageway of the A31 near Runfold following reports of a collision between a white Renault Trafic van and a cyclist, SurreyLive reports.
Attending officers could not initially find the van and its driver, but they were then located approximately 800 metres from the collision with damage to the front of the vehicle. Driver Matthew Marston was sitting on the roadside barrier.
Marston said he was unaware that he had been involved in a collision and instead thought his engine had exploded. Police bodycam footage shows Marston asking "What's happened?" and "Have I hit him?"
Subsequent work on the driver's phone showed a significant amount of use around the time of the collision. A thorough investigation, which included reviewing CCTV footage, analysis of the collision site and a reconstruction of the road also showed Aran would have been visible for up to 200 metres due to hi-visibility clothing and lights.
During interviews with police, Marston was given the opportunity to explain how he had been able to unlock and use his phone, including searching on Maps and sending several WhatsApp messages.
He responded 'no comment' to all questions. The 41-year-old was ultimately charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
On Monday, October 6 of this year, Matthew, of North Baddesley, pleaded guilty to the offence. Then at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, December 3, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for 13 years with an extended retest required.
At the time of the collision, he had accrued 12 points on his licence, avoiding a ban due to the risk of potential hardship. Six points had been issued for using a mobile phone while driving.
Aran is survived by his wife Poppy and their two young children, his parents and siblings. Poppy said: "For two years now I have felt intensely home sick, a feeling I know my children share too. I've realised that the 'home' we miss isn't a place, it's a person. It's Aran.
"The evening the police knocked at the door to tell me Aran had been killed, a version of us who were left behind died that night too. It was the end of Aran's life and the worst day of ours.
"Aran was incredibly smart, challenging and absolutely gorgeous. He was caring and fun. He didn't have an ounce of arrogance about him. Happy to be laughed at, happy to lend a hand, happy just to make others happy.
"He was a natural sportsman who never met his true calling as a professional athlete - perhaps because he lacked the arrogance that so often goes hand-in-hand with that level of success.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about how hard he must have tried to stay alive. I wonder what he thought about in those last few moments. I am certain it was our children.
"I'd also like to thank Andy (our Family Liaison Officer), Charley and all the police involved in this case from the bottom of my heart.
"Thank you for your diligence, hard work, commitment, your patience and consideration with us as a grieving family. You never met Aran, yet I feel like you knew him. Thank you for treating him not just as a case, but as a person. The full of life dad, son, husband, big brother and uncle that he was."
Investigating Officer Charley Spriegel from Surrey Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit added: "My thoughts are with the family of Aran Potkin, who have been left heartbroken by this avoidable tragedy.
"They have remained so incredibly dignified throughout the police investigation and court hearings. Today's outcome will not change the fact that Aran's life was cut so unfairly short.
"This should serve as a harrowing reminder to everyone who drives on our roads, that using a mobile phone behind the wheel can have horrific consequences.
"You may think it will never happen to you, but the stark reality is that you could be the reason why a family is mourning the loss of a husband, father, son and brother."