Driver in Rhyl CC tragedy fined

The driver of the car which skidded on black ice and ploughed into members of Rhyl Cycling Club in the UK, killing four of them, has been fined for having defective tyres. The man had lost control in a curve on the road near his home on January 8, 2006, where 12 cyclists were on a training ride.

He was fined £180 for three counts of driving with defective tyres at Llandudno Magistrates' Court, where magistrates said that the defective tyres "were not a contributory factor." The police investigation found that the defective tyres - the front pair and rear nearside - were not the cause of the crash.

"The crown took the decision that in the circumstances, tyre tread is there to displace liquid debris from the road to give a better grip," prosecutor Diane Williams told the BBC. "In this situation, the examination has found there was no liquid there - it was black ice, consequently the defective tyres couldn't have been a contributory factor to the collision."

After the court case, a spokesman for Rhyl Cycling Club said: "We are content to let the due processes of law deal with these matters and we are satisfied that the families directly affected by the tragedy have the benefit of expert legal advice and support."