Kentish Express Ashford & District
Death crash driver failed eye test
Exclusive
An 86-year-old man who drove the wrong way along the M20, causing the death of a motorcyclist, failed an eye test after the accident.
Leonard Pettifer was at the wheel of his Ford Ka when it struck 60-year-old former policeman Michael Copleston, from Hawkinge, on the coastbound carriageway.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that the pensioner had been visiting his wife in hospital, where he had stayed for eight hours without eating.
He then joined the M20 but realised he needed to go in the opposite direction.
Instead of exiting at the next junction, he just did a U-turn in the outside carriageway.
Pettifer, from Snargate Lane, Snargate, Romney Marsh, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mr Copleston and will now be sentenced in four weeks’ times.
Judge Heather Norton imposed an immediate driving ban after the pensioner’s appearance at Canterbury Crown Court last week, noting he had failed an eye test after the accident.
Mr Copleston was a devoted husband to his wife Pauline of 39 years, a father of two and grandfather to four.
He served in the Metropolitan Police for three decades and was an advanced motorcycle and car instructor who trained other officers in road safety.
After the accident, his daughter, Donna Clarkson, had paid tribute to her father.
She said: “He’s left a huge gap in everyone’s lives and will be greatly missed by all. He retired from the police and has worked for the American Embassy as a chauffeur.
“They have said he was one of the best drivers they had, very knowledgeable and a great guy who was respected by everyone.”
Following the tragedy, Matthew Barzun, the USA’s ambassador to the UK, wrote to Mr Copleston’s family sending his condolences.
He said American embassies around the world had held a minute’s silence in the motorcyclist’s honour.
At Mr Copleston’s funeral, police officers escorted his coffin to Hawkinge Crematorium.
The hearse was led by a trio of Metropolitan Police motorcyclists.