A DRIVER was blinded by the sun when he knocked a cyclist off his bike into the path of oncoming traffic, a court heard yesterday.

David Sayers was killed after he was run over by two cars on the A689 between Hartlepool and Wolviston, Teesside, in January last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard that driver Jan Torka had been travelling about 50mph in the 70mph zone when his sight was impaired by a setting sun. He did not see 58-year-old Mr Sayers.

The wing mirror of his Ford Transit van hit the cyclist who was knocked off his bike into the road, where he was run over by two other vehicles, driven by Martin Conroy and Thomas Sells.

He suffered multiple injuries and died in hospital.

Mr Sayers, of Norton, near Stockton, had been heading home with his son, John, then aged 22, from a bike ride to the North-East coast when the accident happened.

Christopher Attwooll, prosecuting, said: "Jan Torka was driving a Ford Transit into a setting sun.

"He could not see properly and should have slowed down. He did not see Mr Sayers senior on the side of the road.

"Mr Torka was to admit he was travelling at 45 to 50mph, although there is no suggestion he was slowing at the time of the collision, and that the sun was very low and intense."

Torka, of Hill Top, Skelton, east Cleveland, was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, which was accepted by the Crown.

Stephen Friedman, for Torka, said: "He wishes to express his sincere condolences to the family of Mr Sayers.

"It was a very tragic incident. Nothing can be said or done to bring Mr Sayers back."

Judge David Bryant fined Torka £200 and ordered him to pay £100 costs. Six penalty points will be added to his driving licence.

He told Torka: "It is not the tragic consequences of the accident that I am punishing you for."

The Crown offered no evidence against Mr Sells, of Lingfield Ash, Coulby Newham, who had been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and a formal not guilty verdict was recorded.

No evidence was offered against Mr Conroy, of Liddle Close, Peterlee, County Durham, who had denied dangerous driving.