A retired doctor has gone on trial accused of causing the death of an elderly former teacher by careless driving following a tragic north Cumbria town centre collision.
Penny Bains, 72, was struck by a Ford C-Max as she crossed Main Street in Brampton just after 5.15pm on December 20, 2018, in dark and rainy conditions.
Carlisle Crown Court heard this afternoon Ms Bains suffered from a number of ailments, including rheumatoid arthritis, and walked “slowly, with the aid of sticks”.
She was using a puffin crossing with sensors which are supposed to detect whether a pedestrian is still crossing the road; and should have prevented lights changing back to green for traffic. However, the sensor for one side of the road was not working, and so on that date the “lights just went through their usual sequence irrespective of pedestrian presence”.
As retired doctor Roger Williams — now 71 and then a neighbour of Ms Bains’ — approached in the Ford, he slowed for the lights, which were on red. However, they changed shortly before he got there.
“They changed to green while Penelope Bains was still crossing the road, in the middle of that half of the carriageway,” said prosecutor Charles Brown as he opened the case to jurors, “probably because she was much slower than the average pedestrian.
“Dr Williams continued straight ahead,” continued Mr Brown. “He did not see Ms Bains. “In mitigation it was dark. She was wearing dark clothing but she was still in the carriageway straight in front of his vehicle. There were street lamps and lights from neighbouring shops and other vehicles illuminating that part of the road.”
The bonnet of Dr Williams’ car collided with Ms Bains at slow speed. She was thrown to the ground, suffered injuries including a broken leg and was taken to hospital but died from complications arising from those injuries nine days later.
Dr Williams, of Hethersgill, near Brampton, said in a subsequent police interview: “I just didn’t see her. I don’t know why not but I didn’t.” He denies causing her death by careless driving.
“It is accepted that by driving his car he caused the death of Penelope Bains,” Mr Brown told the jury. “What is in dispute is whether he drove without due care and attention.”
The trial continues.
