A cyclist heard saying "I think I killed her" after slamming into a pensioner and fleeing the scene has been jailed for 16 months.
Connor Coltman, 27, was pedalling at speed when he collided with Angela Horseman, 70, as she crossed a road in Bedminster, Bristol, in January.
He stopped for a moment after knocking Mrs Horseman unconscious but then fled the scene over the fear she was dead, Bristol Live reports .
CCTV footage captured Coltman cycling in East Street in early hours of January 15 as he swerved around the pedestrian before hitting her.
Mrs Horseman fell to the road and suffered severe head injuries.
The court heard one witness's account that Colman confessed to hitting a woman and said 'I ain't gonna stop, it's not my responsibility'.
He pleaded guilty to cause bodily harm by wanton or furious driving and admitted a charge of failing to appear at court last week.
Judge William Hart heard a witness saw Coltman with two women and a man before the incident and it appeared Coltman was talking about going to get cocaine - which he denied.
A witness also heard Coltman say: "Oh my God, I think I've killed her."
Judge Hart said: "Mrs Horseman faced the most serious of injuries, yet you who caused it face a sentence, if convicted after trial, which could only merit two years.
"Where death is caused there could be a manslaughter charge. This is not so here.
"There was inflicting grievous bodily harm as an alternative charge, but the crown has not pursued that."
British Transport Police said they found Coltman a few hours later on the railway line, wearing different colthes.
He told the officers he's 'Phil Morgan' before trying to run off, but he was arrested and claimed the collision was accidental, it is reported.
Mrs Horseman had been rushed to Southmead Hospital where she was treated for a fractured skull, a punctured lung and bleeding on the brain.
She underwent three operations and is likely to have long-term repercussions, the court heard.
Her son Paul made a statement in court saying his mum, who worked for Bristol City Council for 35 years, was an independent woman whose world had been turned upside down.
Robert Morgan-Jones, defending, said Coltman worked as a gardener aged 18 but had not worked for three or four years and had been largely homeless with a long-term drug problem.
"He is just 27," Mr Morgan-Jones said. "His chronological age does not accurately reflect his level of maturity."
He said his client had initially not engaged with his legal team, but always maintained what happened was an accident.
