Biker ‘killed as car driver pulled out without looking’
AGRANDMOTHER riding as a passenger on her husband’s motorbike died after a car driver caused a crash by pulling out without looking, a court heard.
Newport Crown Court heard Ray and Brian Jones had been celebrating their upcoming wedding anniversary with friends on the day of the fatal collision near Pontypool last year.
Janet McDonald, prosecuting, said defendant John Morgan showed a “sloppy attitude” as a driver.
The incident occurred on the B4246 Abergavenny Road in Blaenavon just after 8pm on September 17 last year.
Prosecutors said Mr Jones was riding a black Kawasaki motorbike with his wife as a “pillion passenger” on the back in the direction of their home in Pontypool.
Opening the case, Ms McDonald said Morgan showed a “sloppy attitude” as he did not put on his seatbelt before leaving the petrol station on Abergavenny Road.
The court heard he left the forecourt, crossing Abergavenny Road to get to Garn Road.
Ms McDonald said he failed to stop and look before pulling out and an eyewitness said he “shot out” directly into the path of the motorbike.
She added: “Mr Jones did not stand a chance.”
Prosecutors said the obligation was on the driver to ensure his manoeuvre could be completed safely, adding he would have needed to stop to see down the main road.
Morgan was arrested that evening and in an interview the following day, he told police he stopped at the junction before looking in both directions.
When officers later showed him CCTV from the garage, he accepted he did not stop.
Ms McDonald said: “By failing to stop and failing to look, that created an obvious risk.”
The court heard it is estimated Morgan was driving at about 12mph and Mr Jones was riding at about 25mph.
In a recorded interview, Mr Jones – an experienced motorcyclist – told the police: “As I came down to the garage, this car just appeared. I hit the brake and tried to swerve.”
Mrs Jones was 50 when she died at the scene of the collision.
John Mark Morgan, known as Mark, accepts his driving caused her death, but denies that he was driving dangerously.
The 47-year-old from Ton Mawr Street in Blaenavon is on trial at Newport Crown Court.
Ms McDonald said: “The issue in this case is the extent to which the defendant’s driving fell below the required standard.”
The trial continues.