Farmer jailed after biker died in crash
A FARMER in a 4x4 killed a motorcyclist when he pulled across a busy road straight into the path of the oncoming biker, a court has heard.
Rhydian Jones was turning right off the road into a field, but did not see Marcus Heighton coming in the other direction.
The biker tried to take evasive action but there was nothing he could do.
Despite the best efforts of an off-duty policeman who was at the crash-site, and paramedics who arrived shortly afterwards, former rugby player Mr Heighton died at the scene.
Swansea Crown Court heard that moments before the fatal collision Jones had been talking to his partner on a handheld mobile phone - the call ended just 37 seconds before the first 999 call was made by witnesses.
Sending Jones down, a judge said the case should serve as a reminder to all motorists of the responsibility they have every time they get behind the wheel - and should also reinforce a message police have spread for years that using mobiles while driving is dangerous.
The court heard that on September 21 last year Jones was driving his Mitsubishi Shogun along the Cardigan to Newcastle Emlyn road.
Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said between the villages of Llechryd and Cenarth the 52-year-old defendant crossed into the oncoming lane as he turned into a layby which lead to a field he owned.
Coming in the other direction at that moment was 31-year-old carpenter and former Cardigan RFC player Mr Heighton on his Honda motorcycle.
The barrister said: “As a result of that manoeuvre, the two vehicles collided with tragic consequences for Mr Heighton.”
An off-duty police officer happened to arrive on the scene moments after the collision and tended to the gravely injured biker until paramedics took over. But the dad-of-two could not be saved.
The court heard a motorist who had been following Jones later told police his driving had been “a bit inconsistent” with his 4x4 slowing down and then speeding up. She said she saw it swerve into the middle of the road and assumed it would return to the correct lane but instead it kept going - the oncoming bike tried to take evasive action but could not avoid the Shogun.
Mr Rouch said as part of their investigation police checked the records for Jones’ mobile phone, and found he had been making a call in the minutes before the collision. Data showed he had terminated that call some 37 seconds before the first 999 call was made by witnesses to the crash.
The barrister said the prosecution did not maintain the defendant had been on the phone at the time of the crash, but his use of the device in the run up to it “shows a lack of regard for road safety”.
He said a crash investigation had concluded the Shogun had been wholly in the right-hand lane at the point of collision, and the biker would have had little opportunity to react.
Mr Rouch said Jones had been “visibly upset” at the scene, and in his subsequent interview admitted having used the phone while driving. Jones said he had only seen the biker at the last moment.
Jones, of Llangoedmor, Ceredigion, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in the dock.
Simon Morgan, for Jones, said the defendant bitterly regretted his actions on the day in question, and had expressed his remorse. He said his client had lost his own brother in a road traffic collision, and knew something of the pain Mr Heighton’s family was experiencing. He said the guilt and responsibility he felt for what happened on the A484 would live with him for the rest of his life.
Judge Geraint Walters said there was evidence that Jones’ driving had been “distracted” prior to the collision but the use of the mobile phone was not the cause of the collision - that, he said, was down to a “very serious error of judgement” by the defendant in crossing the carriageway and driving into the path of the oncoming motorcycle.
The judge said the incident should also reinforce a message police have been sending out for years, namely that using a mobile phone at the wheel is dangerous.
Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty plea the judge sentenced him to two years in prison. Jones will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
The defendant was also disqualified from driving for three years, the ban extended by 12 months to account for the time he will be behind bars.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing the family of Mr Heighton said: “Although sentencing has been passed, this will never bring Marcus home. We are relieved that the prosecution case is over and would like to thank everyone that was involved in this investigation.”
Dyfed-powys Police constable Eleri Edwards from the force’s serious collision investigation unit said the thoughts of colleagues were with the family of Mr Heighton.
She said: “This case brings a stark reminder to all motorists the absolute need to drive responsibly at all times. The inattention of motorists costs the lives of innocent people.