Bryan Stout, the 86-year-old Briton who was killed on Tuesday when he was hit by a 4x4 vehicle in Puerto Alcudia, was a supporter of the Stop Killing Cyclists campaign and a member of the London Cycling Campaign.
The Evening Standard in London has reported that his death has deeply affected those who knew him, in particular fellow campaigners. There has been much reaction on social networks, including a statement by Donnachadh McCarthy, co-founder of Stop Killing Cyclists. "Bryan did not deserve to die because of violence on the roads. No one deserves to die because of violence on the roads. I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say that we will continue to fight to put an end to the lethal violence on our roads."
He added that Bryan was a "charming, enthusiastic and courteous activist, who fought for safer roads". "The cycling community is mourning."
The 48-year-old driver of the 4x4, a resident of Alcudia who tested positive for alcohol and cocaine, appeared before a court in Inca yesterday morning. The judge denied bail and ordered him to be detained on three charges - one of reckless homicide, one of a crime against road safety with aggravated circumstances of driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotic substances, and one of resisting and disobeying the police.
Identified as Fausto P.P., he told the court that his mother had died at the weekend. This made him depressed, so he bought some cocaine, which he used to take in the past. He said that the accident occurred because he had dropped his lighter and had bent down to look for it.