Romanian van driver who killed Team GB triathlete when he ploughed into her during cycling race to be deported

A Romanian van driver who killed a Team GB triathlete when he ploughed into her during a cycling race is to be deported. 

Rebecca Comins, 52, was participating in a time trial event in South Wales when she was knocked off her bike and killed by Vasile Barbu, 50.

Barbu told police he had no idea he had struck the mother-of-two and claimed he thought the noise of the collision was a parcel falling inside his van. 

But detectives later calculated that Mrs Comins, who was riding with a bright flashing light on her bike, was clearly visible for at least 18 seconds before the fatal crash. 

Barbu was jailed for four years for causing death by dangerous driving - and has now lost his appeal against deportation.

An immigration tribunal heard Barbu moved to the UK in 2022 to become a pub chef and went on to own the bar. In 2004, he married a Romanian and later had twins.

The Romanian claimed he closely identified with British traditions and culture, and saw the UK as his permanent home. 

But Judge Ian Boyes argued his crime was not 'an accident' and deportation would not, therefore, breach Britain's obligations under Article 8 ECHR to Barbu's private and family life. 

Vasile Barbu, who killed Rebecca Comins when he ploughed into her during a cycling race, is to be deported

Rebecca Comins was taking part in a time trial event on a dual carriageway when she was shunted off her bike 

The immigration judge said: 'The nature of the offending is important. This was not an accident. It was not a slight misjudgement.

'It was committed using a vehicle which should not have been on the road. It was overladen and deficient.

'These matters compound the nature and seriousness of the offending.'

He added: 'I find that the decision to deport him would not constitute a disproportionate interference with his right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 ECHR.

'The very significant public interest in deportation outweighs the appellant's private and family life considerations.

'Accordingly, I conclude that deportation would not breach the United Kingdom's obligations under Article 8 ECHR.'

Mrs Comins was taking part in a time trial cycling race with warning signs in place and other cyclists on the road when the tragedy happened.

Cyclists set off at one minute intervals along the A40 dual carriageway near Raglan, South Wales, in the event organised by local club Monmouthshire Wheelers.

Barbu was captured with his head in his hands after being informed Mrs Comins had died at the scene

After being arrested (pictured) Barbu claimed he had seen Mrs Comins just 'seconds' before crashing into her

Barbu failed to manoeuvre around champion sportswoman Rebecca, known as Becky, despite the outside lane of the dual carriageway being empty.

He was unable to explain how the collision took place and told police he saw Mrs Comins and gave a two-metre gap moments before the crash.

Cardiff Crown Court previously heard Barbu's 'devastating and catastrophic failure' to move out of the way amounted to death by dangerous driving, which he denied.

But he accepted he must have collided with her and admitted causing death by careless driving.

Prosecutor James Wilson said: 'Rebecca Comins was there to be seen. Visibility was good, she was cycling with a bright rear light so was clearly obvious to other witnesses.

'Her presence on that road was not unexpected. Barbu would have seen the road signs for the cycling event taking place and would have passed other similar cyclists before he reached Mrs Comins.

'She was cycling in a proper manner and correctly positioned on the road. She was on a long, straight stretch of road with plenty of time for him to see her.

'Further he had space in the outside lane to move into and safely manoeuvre around her and to avoid colliding. He instead directly hit Mrs Comins from behind.

'This was not a momentary misjudgement or lack of concentration. From the road and the weather conditions and how conspicuous she would have been, the defendant's failure to avoid colliding into the back of Mrs Comins was a gross, catastrophic failure which amounted to dangerous driving.

'His dangerous driving caused the death of Mrs Comins.'

Barbu was sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for four years. 

Tributes were paid to Rebecca, who was the Vintage Veteran Champion of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series at the time of her death in June 2022 and had represented Wales the weekend before the crash.

In a statement, Welsh Triathlon said: 'Becky was a fierce competitor, but with it had a positivity and energy that was infectious.

'Becky was a multiple Ironman Wales finisher and also represented the Great Britain Age Group Team at the European Championships in Tartu 2018, as well as at the World Championships in Lausanne in 2019, finishing competitively in both.

'She loved the sport; she loved the training and Becky was central to any social activities across her clubs.

'Becky will be sadly missed by everyone within our triathlon community, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Becky's family, Steve, George and Millie and her wider friends at this sad time.'

Becky was a member of the Dragon Tri Club, Newport Phoenix Cycling Club and Caldicot Running Club.