Man cleared of causing death smash

A 26-year-old man involved in an accident in which a motorist was killed has been cleared of causing death by careless driving

Robert Bryn Jones had denied the allegation and was found not guilty of being responsible for the death of 59-year-old Andrew Watkins by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court, the Shropshire Star reports.

During a four-day trial, the court heard that Mr Jones’ VW van was in collision with Mr Watkins’ Peugeot on a series of tight bends on the A495 near Llanyblodwel in April last year. Mr Watkins died instantly in the crash which happened a short distance from his home at Llansantffraid.

Mr Jones, of Nant-y-Glyn, Llansantffraid, was travelling in the opposite direction and it was claimed his vehicle had strayed across the solid white lines on a bend near a railway bridge.

However, Mr Jones said he believed he had remained on his side of the road. He said the Peugeot had “appeared quickly” and he recalled hearing a bang and his air bag going off.

Defence witness Dr Darren Walsh, an expert in forensic analysis of road traffic accidents, told the court his study of the scene indicated the impact between the two vehicles was “a split second” earlier than suggested by police accident investigators.

In his opinion, scuff marks made by the damaged front wheel of the VW van put the sideways impact between the vehicles, either on the double white lines, or just inside the van’s side of the road.

The prosecution alleged the van had crossed the double lines causing the accident in which its front offside wheel struck the rear offside wheel of the car.

As a result, the Peugeot lost its rear wheel and rotated clockwise before hitting the nearside verge.

The Peugeot then struck a road sign which caused it to flip over on to its roof. Mr Watkins’ neck had been broken.

The court heard that had the car not hit the road sign, it was likely Mr Watkins may have survived the crash.