A grandmother suffered catastrophic accidents when a driving teacher crashed into the again of her bicycle at 55mph.
Rebecca Tanton says Jon Dick has by no means apologised for the collision in Lincolnshire two years in the past and has persistently maintained that he was not at fault.
Dick was convicted in November of inflicting critical damage by careless driving. He obtained a suspended jail sentence and a two-year driving ban, ending his profession as an teacher.
Ms Tanton, who’s in her late 50s, says she is going to “by no means recuperate” from the crash. Her accidents required seven steel plates to be fitted to her bones, and she or he later developed sepsis.
Including to her ordeal, her 33-year-old son died from mind most cancers shortly after she emerged from one in every of six operations. From her hospital mattress, she was compelled to make preparations for his funeral.
She informed Our Information Outlet: “My helmet saved my life, there’s completely little question about that.
“However my life is modified utterly. I’m merely current in fixed ache, whereas Jon Dick continues to be strolling round freely – and he has proven no regret by any means.”
The mom of three had led an exceptionally energetic life earlier than the collision. A eager horse rider and swimmer, she additionally cycled as many as 40 miles every day.
Rebecca Tanton was thrown from her pedal bike on Manby Street in Lincolnshire when she was hit by Jon Dick at 55mph
She crashed onto the street, breaking a number of bones on the fitting aspect of her physique and struggling accidents she says she is going to “by no means recuperate” from
Dick was driving a Ford Puma clearly marked as a coaching car and, in accordance with Ms Tanton, has by no means apologised for the collision
The crash occurred at about 4pm on October 7, 2024, throughout one in every of Ms Tanton’s each day rides alongside Manby Street in the direction of Louth. Dick, who’s in his mid-50s, was travelling on the identical route.
Dashcam footage reveals Dick alone in his Ford Puma, which was marked as a learner car, leaving Manby with the radio enjoying. As he accelerated up a hill, Ms Tanton got here into view forward of him, carrying a high-visibility jacket.
Though he was carrying glasses, Dick did not see the bicycle owner and struck her from behind. As he realised what had occurred, he was heard shouting “f****** a***holes”.
Rear-facing footage captures Ms Tanton being launched into the air earlier than hitting the tarmac. The impression was so extreme that the next car needed to swerve to keep away from working her over.
Ms Tanton says: ‘I bear in mind little or no of the aftermath, however I heard somebody say I wouldn’t make it in the event that they put me within the air ambulance.
‘I wanted an emergency blood transfusion as a result of I used to be shedding a lot.’
Her pelvis was smashed to items, and bones have been damaged alongside the complete proper aspect of her physique.
A gap in her face all the way down to the bone over a fractured eye socket was hemorrhaging a lot blood that it needed to be handled with cosmetic surgery that night.
Rebecca Tanton was a eager horserider, swimmer and bicycle owner earlier than the accident utterly modified her life
Dick was a driving teacher in Lincolnshire earlier than he was banned from getting behind the wheel for 2 years after the responsible verdict
Josh Tanton, Rebecca’s youngest son, died from a uncommon mind tumour simply as she was popping out of a serious surgical procedure
Lengthy weeks in ICU adopted, throughout which 5 plates have been screwed into Ms Tanton’s pelvis: one into her hip, and one into her shoulder.
She stated: ‘From the second Jon Dick carelessly drove his automobile into me, he took away my freedom, independence and love of life.’
In March final yr, simply as the injuries have been starting to heal, Ms Tanton was struck down with sepsis – that means an infection had taken maintain across the plates screwed to her bones.
All the things needed to be opened again up, the an infection washed out, an abscess lower away, and her wounds full of antibiotic beads.
Throughout this operation, nonetheless, her bladder was unintentionally torn – saddling her with a catheter for 3 months.
When it appeared issues might get no tougher, Ms Tanton awoke from a surgical procedure to the worst information possible: her 33-year-old son had died out of the blue from a uncommon mind tumour.
Josh was a marine pilot out of Gravesend, that means he used his professional information to information giant business ships alongside the River Thames.
Dick stopped his automobile after realising he had hit the bike and remained on the scene as emergency providers rushed to assist Ms Tanton
Ms Tanton has been unable to return to the saddle of her bike, which she described as ‘her life’
Ms Tanton stated: ‘The funeral of my beloved son needed to be postponed till I used to be in a steady situation to attend.
‘Which I did with a catheter, and barely capable of stroll, due to the accidents triggered on this collision.’
In the meantime, the sepsis was cleared, however medical doctors discovered that an infection was clinging to the plates – which couldn’t be eliminated, as a result of the bones had not correctly fused.
Meaning Ms Tanton is now residing with a ‘ticking timebomb’ with the specter of sepsis returning. If that occurs, medical doctors have stated she has only a one-in-three probability of survival.
Dick was charged with inflicting critical damage by harmful driving, and first appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court docket in July 2025, however he was allowed on the time to proceed driving.
He was sentenced in December 2025 to 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified from driving for twenty-four months.
In her sufferer impression assertion, learn out in court docket, Ms Tanton stated: ‘The impression this has had on my aged father, my eldest son and household, additionally my daughter, almost seeing me die praying each time I’m hospitalised, is unquantifiable. It’s all a residing nightmare for all of us.’
Jason, her eldest son, informed the court docket: ‘This incident has modified all of our lives utterly. It’s onerous to explain the worry, unhappiness and stress we’ve all gone by means of.
‘Each time I see my mum battle, I’m reminded how shut we got here to shedding her. I’m so pleased with her power and willpower, however I additionally want none of this had ever occurred.’
Dick was approached by Our Information Outlet for remark.
