Motorist ‘to blame’ for death of biker
Dec 19 2007 by Ben Guy, The Journal
A DRIVER was to blame for a horrific crash which killed a motorcycling enthusiast enjoying a day out with her partner, a court heard yesterday.
Richard Harris was turning right into the entrance of a waste disposal site near Belsay, Northumberland, when his Lexus car struck Helen Middleton’s Suzuki machine as she travelled along the A696.
Prosecutor Michael Hodson told a Newcastle Crown Court jury that Harris had turned across Ms Middleton’s path “so instantly” that she had no time to brake.
“She collided at an angle with the front passenger side of the Lexus as it turned in,” said Mr Hodson. “Death was virtually instantaneous.
“She was hurled over the car as was her motorcycle which burst into flames. She hit the road and died from multiple injuries.”
The court heard Harris remained at the scene awaiting the emergency services.
“He was clearly so shocked he could hardly stand up,” said Mr Hodson. “He was repeating, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’ and waited until he was dealt with by police at the scene, sitting with his head in his hands.”
In police interviews, Harris said despite making checks, he had seen neither Ms Middleton’s motorbike nor the machine being driven by her partner Paul Johnson who was travelling behind her and went to her aid after the crash.
But Mr Hodson, who said there was no evidence Harris was speeding, said he had “all the time in the world” to see the two motorcycles coming and they had been “plainly in view.”
He said that shortly before on the same stretch of road, Harris had overtaken an Audi car, an unnecessary manoeuvre as he would have reached the entrance to the waste disposal site within a few seconds.
The 44-year-old, who lives at Collingwood Crescent, Darras Hall, Ponteland, denies causing death by dangerous driving on April 1 this year.
Mr Hodson said Ms Middleton, 41, from North Shields, was a keen motorcyclist with seven years’ experience and regularly enjoyed biking excursions with Mr Johnson.
The couple had been travelling south along the A696 towards Newcastle when the tragedy happened. The weather had been fine that day and the road surface good.
Ms Middleton, who had been wearing a yellow jacket, had been out that day running in her newly-acquired motorcycle which meant her speed was kept down.
“Nobody describes her as travelling at excessive speed and, indeed, I anticipate that you will not hear any criticism whatsoever of her driving from the defence,” said Mr Hodson.
The trial continues today.
