Family pay tribute to man killed by careless driver

Steven Day was struck by a Ford Ranger driven by Karl Twyford in Park Lane, Sutton Bonington

A family has paid tribute to a "happy, kind and loving man" who was run over as he lay in the road.

Steven Day, from Sutton Bonington in Nottinghamshire, died from his injuries after being run over by 4x4 driver Karl Twyford in Park Lane on the night of 30 October 2021.

Nottinghamshire Police said Mr Day, 67, had been socialising with friends and was walking home from The Kings Head pub when he was struck.

On Wednesday, Twyford, 29, of The Willows, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne in Derbyshire, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after he was earlier found guilty of causing death by careless driving.

Twyford was banned from driving for two years and three months and will have to pass an extended test before he is allowed to drive again.

Karl Twyford was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court after he was found guilty of causing death by careless driving at trial

Police said a witness driving along Park Lane described seeing a man lying down in the road who appeared to be uninjured.

The force added that the witness had slowed down and "crawled past" to avoid hitting him before calling an ambulance.

Mr Day was struck by Twyford's 4x4 soon after and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force said Twyford "didn't take any action to slow down" and then left the scene, before later handing himself into police.

'He loved village life'

In a statement, Mr Day's family said: "Steven was a happy, kind, and loving man. He was a very loyal friend and would go out of his way to help anyone.

"He loved life, especially walking the dogs, cycling, kayaking, and motorcycling, especially with family and friends.

"He loved going away in the motorhome and loved walking the cliffs in Cornwall or walking in Scotland."

They said he "loved village life" with many friends in Sutton Bonington who he was "well-liked and respected" by, with his death upsetting the whole community.

The statement added: "No-one can ever replace Steven, who was taken away in such cruel circumstances.

"All he was doing was walking back home from an enjoyable day out with friends. He was taken away from us in a way no normal person can expect, and he is sorely missed. "