Driver accused of causing death of comedian’s son
TRAGIC MAN AND PAL WERE CYCLING HOME FROM PUB WHEN TRAGEDY HAPPENED, COURT TOLD
A MAN is on trial charged with causing the death of Frank Sidebottom creator Chris Sievey’s son in a road collision.
Vithal Visavadiya, 61, denies causing the death of Harrison Sievey by careless driving after his Vauxhall Corsa collided with the 25-year-old in February last year.
The young musician had been cycling home from a pub in Withington with a friend, when he fell off his bike on Mauldeth Road, at the junction of Wellington Road on February 12, 2017.
A jury at Manchester Crown Square heard that Mr Sievey, known as ‘Harry’ had spent the Sunday evening in The Victoria in Withington. They were told Mr Sievey had consumed three pints of lager and taken half a ‘Xanax’ pill – a form of benzodiazipine and minor tranquilliser.
He and a friend, Isaak Coller were cycling home when two passersby noticed Harry lose control of his blue’ Speedster’ mountain bike, before falling over the handlebars, into the road.
Mr Sievey’s bike did not have lights and he and Mr Coller were described as wearing ‘dark’ clothing. As he was attended to by Mr Coller, witnesses described seeing a blue car travelling at ‘normal’ speed approach the pair – with ‘no sign of stopping.’
One witness claimed he put his hand out before shouting ‘stop’ to try to alert Mr Visavadiya, who had been travelling back from a local restaurant with his wife.
Another driver, who stopped his vehicle on the opposite side of the road, claimed he flashed his headlights at the Corsa continuously in an attempt to warn the driver.
Despite this, it is claimed that Mr Visavadiya continued his journey before hitting Mr Sievey and Mr Coller as they remained in the road. The friends were taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where Harry died.
Mr Coller was later released with ‘minor’ injuries.
Police officers who attended the scene reported Mr Visavadiya as ‘smelling of intoxicants’ and originally arrested him on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A breath test sample showed that he was under the legal drink-drive limit and he claimed he had drunk one-and-ahalf pints around half an hour before the crash. Mr Visavadiya, of Clunton Avenue, Bolton, accepted being behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Corsa but maintains he did not see Mr Sievey. He claims this was because he had been blinded by continuous flashing headlights. Opening the case, prosecutor Justin Hayhoe told the jury they had to be sure that Mr Visavadiya’s standard of driving lacked ‘due care and attention.’ In a statement read to the court, Mr Coller said: “Early evening on Sunday we decided to go out for a couple of drinks in Withington and we decided to cycle there. “Harry got on a mountain bike which had no saddle. Neither of us were wearing helmets. When we got to the pub we played a few games of pool and had three pints. I felt a bit wobbly but not what I would class as drunk. We both took half a Xanax tablet too – I don’t know how strong they are but they make you feel a bit spaced out. I would say the way I was feeling was similar to that of Harry as we had taken the same amount.” Proceeding Isaak Coller