London- A friend of a cyclist who suffered brain damage in a hit-and-run crash involving a driver with very poor eyesight told today how their community had been “devastated” by his life-changing injuries.Patrice Gougam was head tennis coach at his local club and mixed with top players such as Martina Hingis when he was hit by a Land Rover driver who was being treated for glaucoma and cataracts and should not have been behind the wheel.
The head injuries sustained by Mr Gougam were so severe that he needs the help of machines to carry out basic tasks.
His wife, Virginia, said her life was “falling apart” after Mr Gougam, 53, was hit on the Great North Road between Barnet and Potters Bar on the evening of November 12 last year.
Hazel Goodyear, secretary of Enfield Chase Tennis Club, said: “Patrice is a lovely guy and this has devastated everybody at the club. I was the last person to see him before the accident. He left the tennis club and was on his way to his cycling club.”
St Albans crown court heard that Michael Elliott, 64, hit Mr Gougam but continued on his way to a photography club meeting in Barnet. It was only as he drove home past the crash site two hours later that he saw police had closed the road.
Retired Elliott, of Potters Bar, told an officer at the scene: “I think that's because of me.” Prosecutor Jane Tansley said a motorist behind Elliott saw his Land Rover bounce off the kerb and he heard a loud bang.
The witness told police: “I saw a person tumbling underneath the Land Rover and it looked like the person was spat out from underneath.”
Elliott admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to notify the DVLA of his eyesight problems.
Gavin Irwin, for the defence, told the court that Elliott could lose his home as a result of civil proceedings being brought against him and the cost of Mr Gougam's health care.
Elliott was jailed for eight months, banned from driving for three years and given nine penalty points on his licence.
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