Cab driver who ran over cyclist in Clerkenwell Road while distracted by mobile phone ‘thought she was speed bump’

A private hire vehicle driver who caused “horrific injuries” to the cyclist he ran over while distracted using his mobile phone has been found guilty of careless and inconsiderate driving.

Abdelyekini Olafusi, 57, of Hoskins Close, Newham, clipped the cyclist’s back wheel when he made a right turn at the traffic light junction from Clerkenwell Road into Theobald’s Road at 7pm on May 27.

The cyclist, a 41-year-old woman from Italy, fell to the ground – but Olafusi continued driving and went over the cyclist.

Highbury Magistrates Court heard that he initially thought he had gone over a speed-bump.

The air ambulance was scrambled and the cyclist was rushed to hospital suffering with a broken leg, a fractured pelvis and a chest injury. She is still recovering from her injuries.

Olafusi stopped at the scene and was charged with careless and inconsiderate driving in November.

Det Sgt Cheryl Frost of the Met’s roads and transport policing command said: “Olafusi’s reckless driving resulted in the serious injury of a cyclist, and this is a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel. The victim suffered horrific injuries, and was incredibly lucky not to have been killed.

“Stiffer penalties were recently introduced for drivers who use mobile phones whilst on the road, and we are committed to enforcing these new laws to make London’s roads safer.”

He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he was banned from driving for 15 months and was ordered to pay costs of £1,260.