Dangerous tractor driver who killed mum out cycling with son jailed for 8 years

A dangerous tractor driver who killed a woman and seriously injured her son as they cycled along a country lane has been jailed. Jonathan Sumner, of Davenport Lane, Arclid, was jailed for eight years and six months at Chester Crown Court on Friday 10 November.

The 33-year-old previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving in an incident on 27 April, 2020, in Brereton Heath. Helen Wickham, 53, had been cycling with her son - who was 19 at the time - along the A54 Holmes Chapel Road at around 7.25pm when they were struck by a tractor towing a field roller, driven by Sumner. He stopped at the scene.

Paramedics found the teenager had suffered severe leg injuries and he was taken to hospital for surgery. Helen sadly died at the scene from her injuries. Cheshire Police received reports of the incident at around 7.40pm and attended the scene. In his initial account, Sumner stated he did not see the cyclists ahead of him, and only realised what had happened when he felt the field roller move and looked in his rear-view mirror.