Vasile Barbu, a Romanian van driver who was previously sentenced for causing the death of Team GB triathlete Rebecca Comins, is set to be deported from the United Kingdom. An immigration tribunal rejected Barbu's appeal against deportation, determining that his crime was not an accident and that deportation would not violate his human rights.
Comins, 52, was participating in a time trial event on a dual carriageway in South Wales in June 2022 when she was struck and killed by Barbu's van. Barbu, 50, initially told police he was unaware he had hit the cyclist, claiming he believed a parcel had fallen inside his vehicle. However, investigators determined that Comins, who had a bright flashing light on her bicycle, was visible for at least 18 seconds before the collision.
Barbu was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and received a four-year prison sentence. He had denied the charge but admitted to causing death by careless driving. Prosecutors argued that Barbu's failure to maneuver around Comins, despite an empty outside lane and clear visibility, constituted a "devastating and catastrophic failure." The court heard that warning signs were in place for the event, and other cyclists had passed safely prior to the fatal incident.
During the immigration tribunal, Barbu contended that he had moved to the UK in 2022 to work as a pub chef and considered Britain his permanent home. He also stated he had married a Romanian and had twins.
However, Judge Ian Boyes concluded that the offense was not a mere accident or misjudgment. The judge noted that Barbu's van was overloaded and deficient, compounding the seriousness of the offense. The tribunal found that the public interest in deporting Barbu outweighed his private and family life considerations, ruling that deportation would not breach the UK's obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Rebecca Comins was a decorated athlete, holding the Vintage Veteran Champion title in the Welsh Triathlon Super Series at the time of her death. She had also represented Wales and competed internationally for the Great Britain Age Group Team in triathlons. Tributes described her as a fierce competitor with an infectious positivity and energy, who was integral to her triathlon and cycling clubs.