Story perspectives

Simon Richardson on trial for dragging cyclist 2.2km

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 10:03 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Simon Richardson is on trial for allegedly dragging Michael Mullins to death in a collision.
The collision occurred at 18:07 BST on 20 April on Paddock Lane, Warburton, when Richardson’s Volvo XC90 hit Mullins’s bike.
Evidence showed Volvo’s underside, bumper and bonnet were damaged consistent with a person being dragged beneath it.
PC David Noonan testified the vehicle traveled at 65.8 mph before the collision.
Witnesses reported the Volvo dragged Mullins for about 2.2 km.

History

Historical Context

The Road Safety Act 1991, enacted under Prime Minister John Major, mandated nationwide speed-camera deployment after a surge of high-speed collisions. The Department for Transport reported a 10 % reduction in road deaths during 1992, saving roughly 1,200 lives nationwide. Simon Richardson’s 2024 trial for dragging Michael Mullins with a Volvo XC90 at 65.8 mph echoes the deadly speed excesses that spurred the 1991 law. The verdict will likely pressure British courts and police to reinforce speed-limit enforcement, echoing the Act’s original intent to curb fatalities.

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Story summary

Simon Richardson is on trial for allegedly dragging Michael Mullins to death in a collision.
The collision occurred at 18:07 BST on 20 April on Paddock Lane, Warburton, when Richardson’s Volvo XC90 hit Mullins’s bike.
Evidence showed Volvo’s underside, bumper and bonnet were damaged consistent with a person being dragged beneath it.
PC David Noonan testified the vehicle traveled at 65.8 mph before the collision.
Witnesses reported the Volvo dragged Mullins for about 2.2 km.

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