A SPEEDING motorist claimed he never saw a cyclist until moments before a fatal crash because his view was blocked by a passing van, a Warrington inquest heard.Teenage driver Phillip McGrath said the cyclist - young soldier Tony Davies - "appeared out of nowhere" before his car struck him.

Mr McGrath, 18, told the inquest he failed to see the cyclist as he appeared from behind a white van near the junction of Orford Road and Syers Court.

But the court heard police had been unable to trace the white van after the incident last August - and the bike was not fitted with lights.

Police have confirmed Mr McGrath appeared before Warrington magistrates and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention in relation to the incident.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £75 with £40 costs. Six penalty points were put on his licence.

Victim Mr Davies, aged 18, of Smith Drive, Orford, died as a result of injuries in the collision.

Police accident investigator Peter Benningwood believed motorist Mr McGrath was travelling no less than 48 mph at the time of the collision.

Interviewed by police later, Mr McGrath said a white van passed him in the opposite direction just before he saw Mr Davies crossing the road.

He added: "The cyclist appeared out of nowhere. All I remember is his bike hitting the side of the car and him flying across."

The court heard the dead man was a promising member of the Royal Logistics Corps and was on leave when the crash occurred. It is believed he was returning home.

In a statement, mum Vanessa Davies said her son was in excellent health through his army training,

Mrs Davies also said her son kept his bike in immaculate condition and it was fitted with a reflector.

Recording an accidental verdict, the coroner John Hibbert said: "It is such a great pity that a young person should be taken from us when he had so much of his life ahead of him."

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