A 75-year-old man from Brading has been charged with causing death by careless driving following the death of Sandown man Jason Nicholls, who was run over on New Year’s Eve 2024.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has confirmed that the man – who is yet to be named – has been issued with a postal requisition and is due to appear before Isle of Wight Magistrates Court later this month.
He will face a single charge of causing death by careless driving.
The charge relates to a collision that occurred at 17:17 on 31st December 2024 at the roundabout junction of Avenue Road, High Street and Culver Parade in Sandown.
Emergency services were called to reports that a grey Nissan Qashqai had struck a pedestrian.
Jason John Nicholls, known as Jay, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital after being stabilised at the scene.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, the 48-year-old father-of-2 died on 15th January 2025.
The driver, who was 73 at the time of the collision, was initially arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving before being released under investigation while enquiries continued.
Earlier this year, an inquest into Mr Nicholls’ death was opened at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court. A post-mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of a head injury sustained in the collision, with the inquest adjourned pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Seems unfair if the individual was laying in the road as was rumoured and the driver didn’t see him. A tragedy all around but can’t see public benefit in a prosecution.
My thoughts entirely. It is a shame a pensioner is being penalised for the behaviour and lifestyle of another. It is tragic that someone lost their life, but in the middle of winter it would have been dark and impossible to see.
That was a rumour and regardless, all drivers should be able to use their hazard perception at all times, including in the dark. If you have your lights on, as you are supposed to, and are driving with due care and awareness then you should be able to see anything in the road and act accordingly.
All vehicles should be fitted with dash cams
front and rear.