‘Speeding’ fire engine killed pedestrian at roundabout

A FIRE engine travelling to an emergency toppled over and killed a pedestrian when its driver navigated a roundabout nearly twice as fast as he should, a court has heard.

Father-of-three Mitchell Bailey, 58, was yards away from home when the vehicle – with “drive to arrive alive” written on its side – crushed him on Jan 18 last year.

The fire engine was being driven by David Williams, 48, who was responding to a 999 call in Royston, Herts, at the time.

Yesterday he went on trial at St Alban’s Crown Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which he denies.

Prosecutor Peter Shaw told jurors that emergency crews responding to 999 calls have “no exemption from the law” to drive safely.

The fire engine was believed to have been travelling between 37.5mph and 39mph – but should have entered the roundabout no faster than 21.6mph, it was heard.

Mr Bailey, who had been returning home from the shops at the time of his death, was “blameless”, the prosecutor said.

The court was told the crash was a “totally avoidable accident”.

Mr Williams, of Baldock Road, Royston, denies both causing death by dangerous driving and a lesser, alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues.