Lucas Akins, a 36-year-old forward for Mansfield Town Football Club, received a 14-month prison term. He was given this deeply insufficient sentence for killing cyclist Adrian Daniel in a pedestrian collision. Akins came out from a side road and unexpectedly drove in front of Daniel. Daniel was cycling home from work along Huddersfield Road at the time. After the crash, Daniel had severe head trauma and died from his injuries 10 days afterward in the hospital.
Besides the time he will spend behind bars, Akins was handed a 12-month disqualification from driving. When the case was brought to court he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, showing the seriousness in which he understood what he had done.
At the time he allegedly went off the rails, Akins was believed to be a man in crisis, facing personal problems himself, including his own divorce. He’s committed to the collaborative, co-parenting model of raising his three soon-to-be school-age kids. Akins came to Mansfield in 2022 and, in a short time, has made his mark. His professional playing career features thrilling stints at Huddersfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, and Burton Albion.
Since then, the collision has taken a significant toll on Daniel’s family. His fiancée, Savanna Daniel, told NPR she was devastated and angry that he had been lost in the first place. She conveyed that the emotional stress of living this trauma for the last three years just overrode anything.
“It has been like hell and a nightmare I’m not waking up from.” – Savanna Daniel
Judge Alex Menary, who presided over the case, considered suspending the jail sentence. He concluded that an immediate sentence was warranted. He reiterated that Akins was responsible for what he called an irreparable tragedy. This senseless tragedy not only ended Daniel’s life, but wreaked havoc on the lives of all those who loved him.
Tim Pole, Akins’ barrister, made the unusual decision to speak directly to the court. He talked about how Akins genuinely gets the anger and frustration that Daniel’s family is experiencing. Pole wasn’t ignoring the fact that the reality of having caused Daniel’s death now hangs over Akins.
“The fact he caused the death of Daniel continues to dominate his thoughts and it’s a burden he will carry for the rest of his life.” – Tim Pole
This heartbreaking incident is another tragic reminder that inattention and dangerous driving choices take lives. Savanna Daniel expressed her pain and urged lawmakers to do more to ensure these tragedies don’t continue to repeat themselves.
“There was no reason for Adrian to be killed that way.” – Savanna Daniel
Community members are still grappling with the devastating impact of this loss. They are intently advocating for increased public and law enforcement awareness of unsafe road conditions like those where cyclists and cars meet.
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