Mark Okotie, a 44‑year‑old van driver, was on a delivery route transporting blood products to a south London hospital when he became involved in a road rage incident in Lewisham. During rush hour, a cyclist spat at Okotie’s van. In response, Okotie deliberately steered his vehicle into the cyclist.
Dashcam footage captured the moment Okotie’s van mounted the cyclist’s body. The victim suffered multiple fractures and required surgery. Following the incident, Okotie was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent at Woolwich Crown Court. The case was presided over by Recorder Neil Haythorne, who described the incident as a moment of extreme road rage.
A van driver who deliberately ran over a cyclist while delivering blood to a hospital has been jailed for three years and six months. Mark Okotie, 44, swerved into the path of a cyclist following an altercation on New Cross Road in Lewisham in March 2024. The cyclist, a man in his 20s, suffered multiple pelvic fractures and a broken thigh bone, requiring surgery. More than two years on, the victim says he can no longer run as he used to and sometimes panics when he hears large vehicles approaching from behind. More on this story ➡️ https://t.co/nRFY4DUraL #Lewisham #London #Cycling #Crime
Okotie was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Despite the conviction, Okotie was not banned from driving. The victim has since spoken about the lasting psychological impact of the attack, noting that the sound of large vehicles now causes him to panic. He has struggled to socialize or mingle in groups, preferring to keep to himself.
The case was presided over by Recorder Neil Haythorne, who described the incident as a moment of extreme road rage.