A jury has found an Isle of Wight man not guilty of causing serious injury by careless driving after a collision involving an Island Roads vehicle left an elderly pedestrian seriously hurt.
58-year-old Richard Price, of Redlake Road in Freshwater, was charged in connection with a road traffic collision that took place on Church Litten on the morning of 27th January 2023.
Mr Price had been driving a branded Island Roads van through Newport town centre when it struck 1 of 2 elderly pedestrians crossing the road.
John Davies suffered serious injuries in the collision and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. His wife, who was also walking with him, sustained minor injuries. The road was closed for several hours while police investigated the scene.
Price was later charged with causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, contrary to Section 2C of the Road Traffic Act 1988. He appeared before magistrates in September 2024, where the case was sent to the Crown Court due to the seriousness of the allegation.
He pleaded not guilty at a hearing on 22nd October 2024.
The trial took place at the Isle of Wight Crown Court last week, where the jury heard evidence over several days. This included eyewitness accounts, police statements, and expert evidence relating to road layout and vehicle movement.
However, after reviewing all the evidence, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Mr Price was formally discharged by the court.
The elderly couple have since both died.
Islandwide CCTV and cameras above traffic lights would
solve many problems.
This is a very dangerous crossing.
The traffic lights do not bleep letting people
know when it is safe to cross.
Yes, constant surveillance of everyone is the answer.
Except: “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one” – Benjamin Franklin.
Poor driver. Why did it take so long to come to court?
So many old people crossing there all the time that will not wait a few seconds for the lights to change. It’s infuriating, entitled and dangerous.
So the couple died, and no charges were brought, sounds dodgy. Teflon coated island roads yet again.
My thoughts exactly, makes one wonder why an
Island Roads vehicle was going into this Road,
If they were working on the roads this tragedy
may not have happened, so sad.
That’s quite obviously a bin emptying lorry you nimby. Not a “working on the roads lorry”