'British Transport Police officer drover dangerously at more than twice speed limit when he hit cyclist' court told

 
A 15-year-old suffered severe facial injuries after a detonator was thrown on to a bonfire and exploded, British Transport Police said
20 August 2012
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A British Transport Police officer was driving "dangerously" at more than twice the speed limit when his van hit a cyclist, leaving him seriously injured, a court heard today.

Jurors were told that Pc David Lynch, 31, was driving the marked police vehicle at speeds of up to 68mph in a 30mph zone as it approached a hump-backed bridge in Hackney, east London.

Eyewitnesses described seeing the vehicle "taking off" and all four of its wheels leaving the ground as it sped over the bridge before slamming into Joseph Belmonte on March 31 last year.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Mr Belmonte, known as Pepe to his friends, was thrown on to the bonnet of the Mercedes Vito van before hitting a tree.

He remained in hospital for two weeks and has no recollection of the incident.

Lynch, of Comfrey Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has previously admitted careless driving but denies the more serious charge of dangerous driving.

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