A Nigerian van driver in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for deliberately running over a cyclist who spat at him during a road rage incident.
The driver, identified as 44-year-old Mark Okotie, was delivering blood to a hospital when he knocked the cyclist off his bicycle on New Cross Road, Lewisham, during evening rush hour on March 20, 2024.
According to the BBC, Woolwich Crown Court heard that Okotie had moved his van into the left lane seemingly without looking, bringing him dangerously close to the cyclist.
The situation escalated at the next traffic lights when the cyclist spat towards the van, with the saliva entering through the driver’s open window.
Rather than continue his journey, Okotie allegedly reacted by deliberately steering his vehicle towards the cyclist, running him over.
Dashcam footage recorded inside the van and presented in court showed Okotie sharply turning the steering wheel, causing the cyclist to fall beneath two of the vehicle’s wheels.
The victim sustained multiple fractures and required several screws and metal plates to be inserted into his pelvis and femur.
In a victim impact statement released by the Metropolitan Police, the cyclist disclosed that his injuries had significantly affected his lifestyle, preventing him from jogging and participating in other physical activities he previously enjoyed.
Okotie, who is from Southwark, was sentenced to three years and six months after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial earlier this month.
During sentencing, Recorder Neil Haythorne described the incident as an extreme act of road rage.
“In a moment of extreme road rage, which appears entirely out of character from what I have heard about you, you caused serious injury to a cyclist,” the judge said.
In mitigation, Mandisa Knights told the court that Okotie was a father of eight and had a one-year-old grandchild.
She explained that he had previously mentored young people to discourage them from engaging in the violence he experienced during his younger years.
According to her, a momentary relapse in retaliation had resulted in grave consequences, adding that Okotie would now have to face the young people he mentored and acknowledge his actions.
Detective Inspector Steven Andrews of the Metropolitan Police also expressed concern over the incident, noting that Okotie had been transporting blood intended for hospital patients who needed medical attention.
“Instead of continuing a journey intended to support potentially life-saving treatment, he chose to place someone else’s life at risk,” Andrews said.
The case has highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of road rage and the importance of exercising restraint during confrontations on public roads.
