A DRIVER, whose car hit Barry care worker Tara Mackie as she walked home from work, has been cleared of causing her death by dangerous or careless driving.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court today found Ashleigh Stephen Ryan not guilty on both counts, which related to the accident on Cardiff Road on Sunday, October 16, 2011.

He had told the court yesterday (Wednesday) that he had lost control of his car while trying to avoid hitting a stone bridge on the road, after another vehicle had overtaken a cyclist.

But he hit Miss Mackie, who was walking along the grass verge, and she died of her injuries.

Experts agreed he had been driving within the speed limit.

He denied both charges, and the jury returned a unanimous verdict.