A van driver whose careless town centre manoeuvre caused a crash which left a motorcyclist with life-changing injuries has been sentenced by magistrates.
Christopher Ruddick, 51, was behind the wheel of a Ford Transit Tipper in central Brampton at around 5.15pm on July 23.
Ruddick pulled into a merger lane on Main Street in order to turn right on to Front Street. A witness travelling around 100 metres behind Ruddick saw Suzuki rider Allan Lancaster approaching on Main Street in the opposite direction.
“All of a sudden”, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard, Ruddick turned right into the path of Mr Lancaster’s bike, which struck the van as Ruddick then suddenly braked.
“The motorcyclist was launched across on to a grass area,” said prosecutor Pam Ward.
Mr Lancaster suffered very serious injuries and was airlifted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. “He can’t remember anything about the accident because he had concussion,” said Mrs Ward.
Mr Lancaster had barely been able to work since, and been told he faces two years of rehabilitation but may not get his full mobility back. He had received 86 stitches and 14 staples in his right leg, metal rods were fitted and attached to his hip, and he suffered many broken bones.
Ruddick, of Croglin, east of Armathwaite, admitted a charge of causing serious injury by careless driving in court today.
He was ashamed by his appearance in the dock, and shocked by the details of he victim’s injuries, said Lauren Heasley, mitigating. She stated: “He simply did not see the motorcyclist.” Ruddick had told the lawyer: “I can’t explain why.”
Magistrates heard a driving ban would result in the self-employed builder losing his work. Ruddick had a wife and child in the Philippines with his “world” revolving around providing for them. His ultimate aim was to move there.
Magistrates, who heard Ruddick was a man of previous good character, suspended a 12-week jail term for 12 months. Ruddick must complete 100 hours’ unpaid work and an 18-month driving ban.
Lead magistrate Kevin Wilderspin said the carelessness had been more than a momentary lapse, adding of Mr Lancaster: “His family must be totally devastated.”
