Widow of Jason Macintyre: 'I'll tell my girls I did all I could to discover how their daddy died'

THE widow of a cycling champion who died in a road accident while training for the Olympic Games has contradicted a sheriff's findings that he could have been saved by wearing high- visibility clothes.

• Jason Macintyre, 33, who hoped to cycle in the Olympics, was killed on the A82 in January 2008. Picture: Complimentary/Ed Hood

Jason Macintyre, 33, was killed after being struck by a council pick-up truck on the A82 trunk road in January 2008.

At the time of the collision he was wearing a grey long-sleeved under-jacket, a blue and white Scotland top, black/silver shoes, black gloves and a black hat.

In his findings following a fatal accident inquiry, Sheriff Douglas Small said Mr Macintyre's death might have been avoided if he had been wearing high-visibility clothing. He recommended all cyclists wear such clothing on public roads.

He also recommended cyclists wear helmets, despite accepting that a helmet could not have prevented the death.

The sheriff said the accident was caused by a lack of attention by the truck driver, Robert MacTaggart, who did not see Mr Macintyre when he made a right-hand turn on the A82 into an industrial estate across the path of the cyclist, who was coming in the opposite direction.

The sheriff urged Highland Council to carry out a feasibility study into building a traffic island at the junction to slow down traffic.

But Mr Macintyre's widow Caroline said: "I can see why he made the recommendation that all cyclists wear high-visibility clothing and helmets, but the evidence was very clear that no helmet in the world would have saved Jason, and I believe he was perfectly visible, and MacTaggart would not have seen him whatever he was wearing."

She added: "I am really glad I fought so hard for this inquiry, even though I have to accept that I lost a wonderful husband and a loving father just because of another driver's complete carelessness and lack of concentration.

"I wanted to be able to face my daughters when they grow up and tell them, hand on heart, that I left no stone unturned in finding out how their daddy died. I feel I have done that."

MacTaggart, from Fort William, was fined 500 and banned from driving for six months after admitting driving carelessly.

Mrs Macintyre criticised the Crown for failing to bring a more serious charge, and also raised a 500,000 damages action against Highland Council.

Her husband, a former printer, had given up his job to concentrate on cycling and had realistic hopes of taking part in the 2008 Olympics and this year's Commonwealth Games.

Sheriff Small said: "It is perfectly clear from the evidence that the collision occurred because Mr MacTaggart made a right-hand turn across Jason Macintyre's path and that Mr Macintyre had no reasonable opportunity to avoid a collision.

"In my opinion … there is a real possibility that Jason Macintyre's presence on the road might have been brought to Mr MacTaggart's attention and the death might have been avoided had he been wearing high-visibility clothing."

Devoted family man and fine athlete with record of success

JASON Macintyre was described by colleagues as one of Scotland's finest cyclists.

He began professional cycling at the age of 18 and went on to win the Tour of the North in Ireland at 23.

Later, he took two years away from racing to help his wife following the premature birth of his daughters.

However, he came back stronger than ever and went on to win 13 Scottish titles and three British championships.

He was a Scottish Olympic time-trial champion in 2002, 2005 and 2007. He was also the first Scot to win the British 25-mile championship, in 2006, and retained it in 2007.

In the same year, he broke Graeme Obree's long-standing ten-mile record.

The athlete was selected to represent Scotland in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and had hoped to feature in both the 2008 Olympics and this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.