Woman is cleared of causing death of biker dad
TRAGIC CRASH IN VALE OF BELVOIR
A MOTORIST has been found not guilty by a jury of causing the death of a motorcyclist through careless or inconsiderate driving.
Amy Beale, 42, denied the offence relating to the crash on the A52 in Bottesford, in the Vale of Belvoir, at 6pm on Friday, February 22 last year.
Leicester Crown Court was told that James Quinn, an experienced motorcyclist, was riding a Triumph Street Triple RS, heading north from Harby, on his way home from work when the accident happened - as Ms Beale pulled out from a side road when daylight was fading to dusk about half an hour after sunset.
She failed to see him, despite stopping at the Give Way line, at the junction with Belvoir Road, and taking time to look both ways, before crossing into his path.
Ms Beale, of Hickling Lane, Long Clawson, near Melton, had mistaken the motobike’s headlight for the right headlight on a car following some distance behind him, the jury was told.
Mr Quinn, 49, was said to have been travelling in a correct manner on the road, within the national speed limit of 60mph.
He was unable to avoid Ms Beale’s Seat Ibiza and she stopped when she realised “something was wrong” and could see one of the headlights getting bigger - without having time to reverse or do anything else.
Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said Ms Beale, who had held a licence since 1988, immediately went to help injured Mr Quinn at the scene.
He was conscious and talking. Ms Beale also phoned Mr Quinn’s wife, on his phone, to let her know there had been an accident as passersby also stopped to help.
Mr Quinn, who had several degrees including a Master of Science qualification, suffered pelvic and internal injuries and underwent eight operations, but tragically died hospital on March 7 last year.
His grieving wife and daughter attended the trial and, after the verdict, Judge Robert Brown offered his sympathy and condolences for their loss.