Family looking to appeal sentence after death of 'incredible' and 'remarkable' Maria
The nurse, 53, was cycling when she was killed by someone who'd been inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel
Last updated 19th Jun 2024
The family of a Devon mum-of-three say they're looking to appeal the length of sentence given to her killer, after she was struck while cycling in Exeter.
Driver Harry Lock, from Shortwood Crescent in Plymouth, who ran a red light had been using his knees to steer while inhaling nitrous oxide behind the wheel.
The 24 year old's been jailed for three years and four months, with a two-year driving ban which is due to begin on release, after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Caspar Hughes is a family friend of Exeter nurse Maria Perez-Gonzalez, 53, who said: "Listening to the testimonials that her sons read out in court was really, really moving.
"She was such a lovely woman who was deeply involved in the local community."
He says the nurse was working her way up her career when tragedy struck and the impact of her death has been 'immeasurable' on her family.
"It has hit the community really hard," he added.
"I don't think that people see all the secondary and tertiary effects of these deaths. I'm very good friends now with her son, who lives over here and it's really hit him quite hard."
In August 2021 a so-called cycling 'die in' was staged to show solidarity with Ms Perez-Gonzalez's family.
Miss Perez-Gonzalez’s three sons Edgar, Chris and Jorge have paid tribute to her in a statement, saying: "She was an incredible person who accomplished amazing things in life, who was going to achieve so much more.
"A year away from reuniting with her oldest son, Edgar, after 20 years. She was a remarkable woman that helped whoever surrounded her.
“She had been through difficult times but always stayed positive, even in the face of the extreme adversity, testament to her strength and courage.
"She was a health care assistant at the RD&E, just about to embark on university nursing course before she was so cruelly taken.”
After sentencing on Friday, Sergeant Troy Bennett, of Devon & Cornwall Police’s Serious Collisions Investigation Team, said: "Those tragic consequences are felt by the family of Maria Perez-Gonzalez to this day as they continue to mourn her loss.
“As Lock starts his sentence, he can reflect on his poor choices that evening.
“Driving while impaired is one of the ‘fatal five’ most dangerous driving behaviours that often contribute to fatal or serious road traffic collisions.
“I urge all those who get behind the wheel to ensure they never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that they drive carefully."
Lock had left an Exeter pub on the evening of 7 August 2021 and was heading home to Plymouth alongside a front-seat passenger at the time of the collision.
The court heard that he briefly stopped his BMW 4 Series to retrieve cannisters of nitrous oxide from the boot.
He was inhaling the gas as he drove through a red light and hit Miss Perez-Gonzalez while she crossed Western Way on her bicycle, the judge was told.
Lock had ignored requests from his passenger to stop consuming the substance.
Miss Perez-Gonzalez, a healthcare assistant from Exeter, died in hospital from her injuries two days later.
Lock initially told police under interview the traffic light had been green – but investigators proved otherwise through tiny details spotted in CCTV uncovered months after the incident.
While the scene was obscured by foliage in footage, officer in the case Detective Constable John Greathead noticed subtle pixel changes which were in fact the crossing lights.
Officers were then able to determine sequence timing that showed Miss Perez-Gonzalez had been correctly traversing Western Way from Barnfield Road to a green crossing light.
The traffic light Lock missed had been red for nearly seven seconds.
There is more about what happened here