Pensioner drove without glasses causing ‘serious’ injury

A PENSIONER driving without his glasses made an illegal U-turn into the path of a motorcyclist whose machine flipped through the air and struck a pedestrian – leaving her unconscious for a fortnight.

Edward McMahon, 86, admitted causing serious injury to Daniel Grzech and Diana Kutsucutsa by driving dangerously in Malpas Road in Newport on Sunday, June 26, last year. Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Julian Greenwood said: “His eyesight was well below the standard for driving.”

The court heard the incident occurred at around 7.30am at the junction between Malpas Road and Graig Park Road while the defendant was driving his BMW.

Mr Greenwood said McMahon had just been to buy a newspaper when he decided to perform the illegal manoeuvre. The prosecutor said: “The no U-turn sign was clearly on display.”

He said victim Mr Grzech, from Dinas Powys, was riding his Honda motorbike when he saw the defendant cross through the central reservation. The court heard the motorcyclist thought McMahon had seen him but then the defendant pulled straight in front of him and Mr Grzech was unable to avoid a collision. When asked by an officer if he wore glasses for driving, McMahon replied: “No, I don’t need them.”

The officer gave him a roadside eye test and found he could not read a number plate at the required 20m, having to move to 14m. McMahon initially denied making a U-turn and told police he thought the motorbike was travelling too fast but later changed his account. The court heard he had a cataract in his left eye and had missed eye tests in recent years.

McMahon, from Brynglas Avenue in Newport, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was given a 16-month jail term suspended for two years; disqualified from driving for five years and would have to pass an extended re-test before driving again.