Cyclist Joe Burton's widow tells of horror of Southampton fatal crash

Kind and supportive Joe Burton, 33, died after he was hit from behind by a BMW driver on Hill Lane. in Southampton.

The driver, Kornel Marcinek, had smoked cannabis that day and had even used his phone just seconds before the crash.

READ MORE: Drug driver ploughed into cyclist seconds after using phone in Southampton

Now, as Marcinek was sentenced to 21 months in jail, Joe's widow Anna told of her loss- while his mother Christine called for more to be done to avoid crashes. 

In a statement read out in court, his wife Anna said how they had only married in April, just three months before Joe died. 

She said they had met on holiday in Sri Lanka and "spent many happy times travelling together" but that her "life changed" when she was woken up to a call from Joe's father the morning after the crash. 

Joe Burton.

"I never got to see or talk to him again. I never got to say goodbye or tell him how much I loved him one last time.

"He was the only person I wanted to stay with forever. He was my best friend and the closest family I ever had."

Anna added that she was in a "barely functioning state" for some time and is still unable to work or even look for a job.

"I feel unsafe and alone most of the time. I don’t really have a reason to get up in the morning."

After the couple were married, Anna, who had been living abroad had planned to join her husband in the UK.

Crash scene on Hill Lane.

But after the incident she is now worried her visa won't be granted and she may not be able to stay in the UK permanently.

"He really had so much to do with his life and I was lucky and privileged to be a part of it," she said.

"He was an amazing person. Loved by everyone he met. Always putting other people's needs in front of his.

"Joe didn’t deserve what happened to him.

"He deserved to live a long happy life with me. The actions of the driver on that night have taken that away from him."

Marcinek was also disqualified from driving for two years and ten months after pleading guilty at Southampton Crown Court. 

Christine Burton.

Speaking at the sentencing, his mother, Christine Burton, explained how she had searched the internet for figures and found 80 serious accidents in Southampton have involved push bikes. 

The figures showed that ten of those incidents were fatal. 

Christine said: "That is just in one city. That is too many. As a nurse and as a carer, I’m very risk averse.

"Talk about them. Do healthy pursuits. Not take intoxicating substances.

"If you have got an influence on young people, do not encourage them to take intoxicating substances.

"Think about preventing accidents."

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