A man has gone on trial accused of causing the deaths of two pedestrians by driving a van carelessly on a road in Carlisle city centre.
Terence Abson, 62, died at West Tower Street on March 1 2021. Mr Abson had been walking across the road at a pedestrian crossing with his partner, 56-year-old Georgina Lands, who died in hospital seven days later.
A Carlisle Crown Court jury heard today, there was no doubt Mr Abson and Miss Lands had died as they crossed the road having walked from Scotch Street — nor that they had been struck by a Mercedes Sprinter van. This was driven by Marc Large, a 49, of Gleneagles Road, Sunderland.
Large had travelled along Lowther Street, past the former Debenhams store and on to West Tower Street.
CCTV captured the incident, which happened at 12.52pm.
A mobile phone seized from Large in the aftermath showed he was on an outgoing call which ended four seconds after the collision.
That was not to say, said prosecutor Tim Evans as he opened the case, that the phone was in Large’s hand at the time. His vehicle was fitted with a system allowing hands-free Bluetooth connection.
Mr Abson and Miss Lands had begun crossing the road when the lights for pedestrians were red. According to CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, the traffic lights for vehicles had turned to amber as Large’s van came towards the crossing.
Large denies two charges which allege that he caused the deaths of both pedestrians by driving without due care and attention.
During the trial, said Mr Evans, jurors would hear collision investigation and incident reconstruction reports. These would deal with a number of issues, including the angle of sun at the time and what would be seen of the crossing; how much time Large would have had to see the couple as the approached the traffic lights; and the position of his van in the road.
“Much of the evidence in those reports is agreed but important matters are not and are for you to decide having heard all the evidence,” said Mr Evans.
There would also be evidence heard from eyewitnesses.
Mr Evans alleged of Large: “In short, the Crown say he had ample time and opportunity to pay attention to what was on the road ahead of him, and he ought to have seen that the two were already on the road as he was approaching the lights; albeit they were starting to cross when the pedestrian side of the crossing traffic lights were on red against them.”
When interviewed, motorcycle trader Large provided a prepared statement to police. He spoke of being on a hands-free call at some point during his journey on a route he knew well before the collision, as he began his return to the North East.
“What followed is something of a blur and, given that two people died in a collision in which I was involved, I am shocked to the core,” he said. “I was not distracted and my mind was on my driving.” He also stated: “I really can’t explain how this collision occurred as I never saw the couple until a split second before I hit them.”
Prosecutor Mr Evans told the jury: “Carelessness or not is the issue at the heart of this case.”
The trial continues.
