[C]ONCERN has been raised about an “awkward” and “difficult” A66 junction next to the scene of a fatal crash.
Lorry driver Ashley Cole is on trial at Carlisle Crown Court. He admits his careless driving caused the death of 30-year-old Jamie Armstrong, who died when his eastbound Audi A4 was in collision with Cole’s HGV on the A66 at Stainmore on September 8 in 2016.
But Cole, 56, denies his driving was dangerous. Jurors have heard he pulled his cab and 40ft-long trailer out of Stainmore Cafe, across the eastbound carriageway and waited in the central reservation for 15 seconds intent on turning west. That left his HGV blocking the entire eastbound carriageway in darkness at 5-20am as the Audi approached.
In a police interview, Cole described the unlit junction as “awkward”, and stated: “It’s just another accident waiting to happen to be honest.”
An officer asked of the fatal crash: “How do you feel about what’s happened?”
“Shocking really,” replied Cole, who hadn’t seen any lights approaching. “It’s upsetting isn’t it?”
The jury has heard Mr Armstrong’s car, due to the sloping road layout, would have been “out of view” to Cole, of Ecclesfield, Sheffield, from almost a mile away until less than 400 metres from the crash site.
A police collision investigator also told the court: “It’s a difficult junction to negotiate.”
The trial continues.
