Van Driver Deliberately Runs Over Cyclist in Shocking Road Rage Attack (Video)

A delivery driver transporting potentially lifesaving blood supplies to a London hospital has been sentenced to prison after deliberately running over a cyclist during a furious road rage confrontation, leaving the victim with devastating injuries that continue to affect his life more than two years later.

Mark Okotie, 44, was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars on Tuesday, October 27, after a jury found him guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent. The shocking incident, captured on multiple dashboard cameras and surveillance footage, showed Okotie steering his work van directly into the path of a cyclist before accelerating and knocking him to the ground.

The attack occurred during the evening rush hour on March 20, 2024, along New Cross Road in Lewisham, southeast London. Okotie was supposed to be delivering blood products to a hospital, where they were needed for patient care, but an argument with a man riding a bicycle quickly escalated into a violent confrontation.

According to evidence presented at Woolwich Crown Court, the dispute began when Okotie moved his van into the left lane, apparently without checking carefully enough for the cyclist traveling nearby. The maneuver brought the two dangerously close together, prompting an angry exchange between the men.

When they reached the next set of traffic lights, the cyclist spat in Okotie’s direction, with saliva entering the van through the open driver’s window, the court heard.

What happened next transformed an unpleasant roadside confrontation into a serious criminal offense.

Rather than allowing the cyclist to continue on his way, Okotie pursued him down the road. Video evidence showed the van moving out of its lane and crossing toward the cyclist before accelerating into him at approximately 5:40 p.m.

The impact knocked the man from his bicycle, sending him beneath the vehicle. Witnesses who watched the incident unfold later told police that the driver’s actions appeared deliberate, with one describing the attack as though Okotie had been trying to kill the cyclist.

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Emergency services rushed the injured man, who was in his 20s, to a hospital, where doctors discovered multiple pelvic fractures and a broken thigh bone. He subsequently underwent surgery to have metal supports inserted into his pelvis and leg.

Although he survived, the physical and emotional consequences have continued long after the crash.

In a victim impact statement presented to the court, the cyclist described how the attack had transformed his once-active lifestyle. Before the incident, he regularly exercised, enjoyed running and rode his bicycle without fear. More than two years later, he said he still struggles with physical limitations that prevent him from enjoying many of those activities.

“I used to go jogging every morning before work but I’ve not been able to do that since,” he explained.

The experience also left him anxious around larger vehicles, particularly when he hears a van approaching from behind while cycling. He said the fear has changed the way he interacts with other people, making him more cautious and less comfortable in social situations.

Activities he once hoped to try, including skydiving, now seem unlikely because of the lasting effects of his injuries.

The prosecution relied heavily on footage recovered from Okotie’s van and other vehicles, along with nearby CCTV recordings and witness accounts. Investigators said the evidence established that the collision was not an unfortunate accident but an intentional act of violence.

Following his trial, Okotie was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent on October 19, 2026. He returned to Woolwich Crown Court eight days later to learn his sentence.

During sentencing, the judge condemned his decision to use a vehicle against another road user during an argument, describing the van as a dangerous weapon in the circumstances.

The court also heard that Okotie had continued driving in the years since the incident. The judge did not impose a separate driving disqualification as part of the sentence.

For Metropolitan Police investigators, the case was particularly disturbing because Okotie had been carrying out a job intended to support vulnerable hospital patients when he chose to engage in the confrontation.

Detective Inspector Steven Andrews, who led the investigation, emphasized the stark contrast between the driver’s professional responsibilities and his actions on the road.

“Instead of continuing a journey intended to support potentially lifesaving treatment, he chose to place someone else’s life at risk,” Andrews said.

The detective credited the extensive video evidence and eyewitness accounts with helping investigators reconstruct the incident and establish what had happened.

He also expressed hope that the prison sentence would offer the victim some measure of justice while sending a warning that deliberate violence against cyclists and other road users would be taken seriously.

The case highlights how quickly an ordinary traffic disagreement can escalate into a life-changing act of violence. What began as a confrontation between a van driver and a cyclist ended with one man serving a prison sentence and another facing lasting injuries and anxiety.

For the victim, the consequences extend far beyond the day of the attack. His ability to exercise, socialize and travel confidently has been significantly affected, leaving him struggling to regain parts of the life he enjoyed before the confrontation.

And for Okotie, a moment of road rage has resulted in a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for an attack that investigators say was entirely deliberate.