[A] MAN has been cleared by a jury of causing the death of a fellow motorist by dangerous driving.
Nigel Stevens, 55, had faced two charges which arose out of a fatal collision on the B5305 near Wigton. This occurred in darkness, on November 6, 2015, and claimed the life of 53-year-old van driver David Mitchell.
At the time, Stevens was attempting to reverse an HGV off the B5305 and into a farm entrance near his Greenrigg Cottages home. His trailer was “across both carriageways” when Mr Mitchell, from Waverton, collided with it, suffering fatal head injuries.
Stevens admitted causing Mr Mitchell’s death by careless driving but denied doing so dangerously. And today (THURS) after a trial at Carlisle Crown Court he was unanimously acquitted of the more serious charge.
Stevens will be sentenced for the careless driving crime on July 21. He was granted unconditional bail in the meantime, but Judge Peter Hughes QC observed that the offence “inevitably crosses the custody threshold”.
