A MOTORIST has been unable to give a reason for a crash which killed a cyclist on the A491 M5 feeder road at Bell End, Belbroughton, last July.

Halesowen father-of-two 61-year-old David Coldicott, of Mendip Road, died from mutliple injuries after being run over by a Nissan Micra driven by 23-year-old Rebecca Key.

The driver had shown a catastrophic lack of care but there was no obvious explanation - Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

She was driving well within the 50mph speed limit on a bright Saturday afternoon and there were no faults on her car. Mr Coldicott was on his correct side of the road.

Key, of Bramble Close, Nuneaton, who admitted causing death by careless driving, was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months.

Her not guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving was accepted.

She was also given a community order and required to do 200 hours of unpaid work. She was disqualified for two years and ordered to pay £229 costs.

Mr Coldicott had been overtaken by a Land Rover and trailer before the accident.

Key, who was returning from a holiday in the Lake District, said she first saw the cyclist when he was ten to 15 metres in front of her.

She braked hard and tried to swerve but could not avoid a collision. She denied she had fallen asleep at the wheel although her partner was asleep in the passenger seat.

In an impact statement by Mr Coldicott's widow Susan, she told how she and the family missed her husband of 42 years. He so much wanted to see his young granddaughter growing up.

Brian Dean, defending, said Key had accepted responsibility for the accident from the start and she was aware of the pain felt by the Coldicott family. She felt genuine remorse.

She came from an impeccable family and her father had recently returned from an 11-month tour of Afghanistan. She had not driven since the accident and was terrified of getting behind the wheel again.

Judge Julia Macur said there was no question of Key driving recklessly.

Neither was she affected by drugs, alcohol or technical gadgets.

She felt Key must have been distracted before the crash as she could not recall seeing the overtaking by the Land Rover. She must take an extended test before she gets her driving licence back.