Hawkesdale woman clips cyclist travelling on Kirkstall-Koroit Road

The 68-year-old Koroit man told The Standard he heard the car coming and then all he could remember was being on the ground.

The motorist, Gail Cockfield, 74, of Hawkesdale, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to dangerous driving causing serious injury.

The court heard the incident took place at the intersection of Nine Mile Creek Road and Kirkstall-Koroit Road on June 12 last year at 9.14am.

Cockfield was driving behind a group of cyclists travelling towards Kirkstall.

She attempted to overtake the group, who had moved into a single file, and clipped the handle bars of the male victim, who wobbled before falling heavily onto the road.

Cockfield immediately stopped to render assistance and waited for police and ambulance to arrive.

The victim was transported to hospital where he was treated for a broken shoulder blade, femur and collar bone, as well as severe bruising to his upper arm.

His injuries required surgery and he remained in hospital for 12 days, the court heard.

A prosecutor told the court the Kirkstall-Koroit Road was narrow with gravel shoulders and a 100km/h speed limit.

Cockfield told police she had slowed down to about 15km/h, that she waited until the cyclists were in a single file before she attempted to overtake and she thought she was "in the clear".

Magistrate Franz Holzer said the incident was a "classic case of not sharing the road carefully and safely, particularly in regional Victoria".

He said Cockfield was lucky the victim's injuries were not worse and that she didn't find herself in a higher court, charged with offences that carried lengthy prison terms.

The court heard Cockfield had a prior conviction for drink driving after she blew 0.265 back in 1988.

Lawyer Ian Pugh said his client was very regretful, remorseful and she wanted to tell the court how sorry she was.

He said Cockfield was a nurse for 30 years and a current foster carer.

Cockfield was convicted, fined $1000 and her licence was disqualified for two years - a sentence that exceeds the mandatory disqualification period.

Mr Holzer said he recognised "the effects of licence loss in regional area" but said the offending occurred in "circumstances which were entirely avoidable".

The victim told The Standard on Tuesday that he was still recovering from the accident but he was back on the bike.

"I am back cycling but the recovery process is going to be longer yet," he said.

"I still have to regain my strength and mobility and I'm nowhere near where I was before. I've been told the process will take a while."

The victim said he returned to cycling at the end of last year.

"I'm still very nervous around traffic but I really missed it and it's great to be back with friends," he said.

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