Driver admits he caused death of motorcycling hero
Magistrates told U-turn led to fatal crash
A man has admitted causing the death of a motorcycling legend who died in a crash near Flimwell.
David Gladwell pleaded guilty to causing the death of Paul Smart by careless or inconsiderate driving on the Lamberhurst Bypass in October 2021. Mr Smart, who was from Eynsford, near Dartford, rode for Ducati and was among the best riders in Britain.
He died at the scene of the crash on the A21 after 65-yearold Gladwell decided to do a U-turn in his Ford Focus after he met slow moving traffic on the carriageway.
Gladwell, of Acland Close, Plumstead, appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on February 8 and pleaded guilty to the offence.
James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “This is a case of a fatal road traffic crash on the Lamberhurst Bypass.
“Mr Gladwell came across a slow-moving queue of traffic and decided to do a U-turn in the opposing lane and collided with a motorbike ridden by Mr Smart. Sadly he died of his injuries.” Magistrates sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing and Gladwell was given an interim driving ban until then. The date is yet to be fixed. Mr Smart was killed shortly before 2pm on October 27, 2021, and at the time, Kentbased motorcycling star, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, who grew up in Sittingbourne, was among
those to pay tribute. Posting on Instagram at the time, he said: “I cannot begin to tell you how sad I feel to have to share the news that my great friend Paul ‘Smartie’ Smart had passed away today in a tragic accident. “I was 11 years old when I first met him, he was at my first ever race and advised me throughout my whole career in a way that only someone like him could. “Our thoughts here are first and foremost with his family and also to his friends of whom there’ll be many... This is a very sad day.. R.I.P Paul Godspeed.” In a statement on the day of the accident, Mr Smart’s family said: “It is with huge sadness we have to report that Paul lost his life in a road traffic collision earlier this afternoon while riding his motorcycle in East Sussex and Kent.
“Paul was a hugely popular character in and out of the paddock, and much loved by his family, friends and fans around the world. He was 78.
“He will forever be synonymous with Ducati, the Italian brand he propelled to international acclaim with victory in the 1972 Imola 200 race.
“Paul also shared a special affinity with the Brands Hatch circuit, having lived literally next door in West Kingsdown for many years.
“Paul is survived by wife Maggie, son Scott and daughter Paula.”
His early racing days were spent tearing around the Brands Hatch circuit in the late 1960s as a member of the Charles Mortimer Race School.
After his death, Brands Hatch tweeted: “Our thoughts very much with the Smart family. Ride on, Paul.”
Success in club racing saw him propelled onto the national scene when he won at a Stars of Tomorrow meeting in 1966. He secured two second place finishes in the Isle of Man TT Races in the late 60s.
Perhaps his most famous win was at the Imola 200 in 1972 when, aged 29, he was first across the finish line on a Ducati 750 racer.
He retired in 1978, having enjoyed success in 250, 350 and 500 categories.
‘Mr Gladwell came across a slow-moving queue and decided to do a U-turn’