Hong Kong emigrant to UK jailed for two years after killing cyclist in traffic accident

A Hongkonger who moved to the UK has been sentenced to jail for two years on Tuesday after he killed a cyclist in a traffic accident in Sheffield in 2023.

Long Wan, 33, had been traveling from Manchester when he fatally struck Richard Bower, 55, on Rivelin Valley Road, Sheffield, on September 29, 2023. He previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The Sheffield Crown Court heard it could not be explained why Wan had veered onto the opposite side of the road as neither excessive speed nor phone usage were identified as possible contributing factors.

The prosecution told the court that Wan had moved to the UK from Hong Kong and bought his Mazda car not long before the collision, and had considered himself an inexperienced driver.

He said the defendant maintained he had been complying with the 40mph speed limit but lost control of his car while navigating a bend in the road.

While a collision investigation report could not establish the speed of the car, it concluded it should have been possible to drive along the bend safely even at speeds of up to 60mph, the court heard.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said speed had not been "the real issue" but rather Wan's "complete inattention and a comprehensive loss of concentration".

During mitigation, the defense said the events of that day had "haunted" his client, who wished to extend "an unreserved apology" to the victim’s family.