Family of motorcyclist killed in Dunton collision call for greater road safety awareness
24-year-old Cameron Patterson has been sentenced for causing death by careless driving after the death of Lee Bozier-Lown
The family of a motorcyclist from Letchworth who died in a road traffic collision last year have urged road users to reflect on how “one small lapse in concentration can have devastating consequences.”
On the morning of Thursday 11 May 2023, a collision occurred on Cambridge Road, Dunton, involving a motorcycle ridden by Lee Bozier-Lown and a Ford Transit van. Despite the efforts of emergency services, the 46-year-old from Letchworth was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cameron Patterson, 24, of Laburnum Avenue, Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, appeared at Luton Crown Court today (Friday) where he was sentenced for causing death by careless driving. Patterson, who had pleaded guilty, received a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He has also been ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation, pay a £1000 fine, and wear an electronic tag for 18 weeks.
Lee's wife, Lavinia, commented: “Whilst this sentence doesn’t alleviate the pain of Boz’s death, I wish to stress that we, Boz’s friends and family, are satisfied with today’s verdict. Boz was passionate about safe riding and hopefully this tragedy will remind other road users to drive and ride carefully. Just one small lapse in concentration can have devastating consequences. It brought us great comfort today that the prosecution, defence, and the judge herself all emphasised that Boz had been riding safely and could have done nothing to avoid the collision. It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users.”
Detective Sergeant Craig Wheeler from the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This was a completely avoidable collision, caused by Patterson failing to use his mirrors and check his blind spot prior to committing to an overtake. His failure to do this has cost Mr Bozier-Lown his life. I would like to commend the family and friends of Mr Bozier-Lown – affectionately known as Boz by all who knew him – and together we wish to take this opportunity to remind road users to always ‘Think Bike’, and to take extra care in checking their blind spots to ensure tragic collisions such as this can be avoided.”