Driver killed as he dealt with flat tyre, court told
ADRIVER killed a man who had stopped to change a punctured tyre when he tried to overtake him and collided with an oncoming car, a court has heard.
The man died a week later as a result of his injuries.
Shane White, 54, is on trial over the death of Mark Rowley, 31, following a crash on on the B4269 near Abergavenny at around 5.30pm on March 10, 2021.
The crash involved the defendant’s Fiat Punto, the door of Mr Rowley’s Ford Transit van, and a grey Jaguar driven by Ian Curtis.
A trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Rowley was leaning into his vehicle between the van and the driver’s side door when he was hit by White, who was driving at around 47mph at the time of impact.
It is claimed by the prosecution White did not brake and took a risk by overtaking the broken-down vehicle, with tragic consequences.
White, of Coopers Way, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving.
Opening the case, prosecutor Janet McDonald said: “A van being driven by Mr Mark Rowley had a flat tyre and had pulled into his left-hand side on his correct side of the road.
“He was leaning into his driver’s side when the defendant, in a Fiat, came from behind the van, pulled out alongside it, and into the path of the oncoming Mr Curtis driving in his
Jaguar correctly on his side of the road.
“There was not enough room for the defendant to conduct that manoeuvre safely. It would have been obvious to a careful, competent driver that there was not enough room to conduct that manoeuvre. It would have been obvious to a careful, competent driver upon seeing the hazard that he needed to slow down.
“There was a simultaneous collision between all three vehicles as the defendant bashed and scraped his way between the van and the Jaguar and the defendant collided with Mark Rowley. Mr Rowley regrettably died a week later on March 17, 2021.”
Witnesses passed Mr Rowley without incident but became concerned at the defendant’s driving, believing he was travelling too fast, the court heard.
Driver Bethan Webster flashed her headlights to warn him of the brokendown van.
Ms Webster later saw White swerve out into the opposite carriageway past the van.
Francoise Perham described
White’s car “coming from nowhere” as Mr Curtis’ car drew parallel with the van at a reduced speed.
She said it appeared the Fiat was “trying to squeeze through”.
Mr Curtis attempted to pull his car to the left but was struck by White’s Fiat, which also collided with Mr Rowley. The Fiat came to rest 32m from the point of collision.
White was spoken to by police at the scene of the crash.
He said: “”As I moved to overtake the van I have seen a vehicle coming towards me, which was a silver Jaguar. I tried slamming on my brakes and realised I wasn’t going to make it. I have collided with the driver’s door of the van with the passenger side of my vehicle. I have also hit the oncoming Jaguar with my front driver-side wheel.”
He was interviewed under caution on March 22 and said he remembered seeing the van with its hazard lights on and he remembered braking “knowing that I am not going to make this”.
He added: “I kind of skidded a little bit. His driver’s door was open and I
have gone around his driver’s door, but I’ve clipped it because there was a Jaguar coming towards me. I have gone between the Jaguar and the van door and I have heard a clash.”
The defendant said he was unable to see skidmarks when he returned to the scene, but claimed he had skidded and slid and moved into the opposite carriageway to avoid hitting the back of the van.
The trial continues.