Jury retires to consider verdict over fatal crash

Terence Abson died at the scene while Gina Lands died in hospital a week later

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of man accused of causing the deaths of two pedestrians by careless driving.

Terence Abson, 62, and Gina Lands, 56, were struck by a van in Carlisle city centre on 1 March, 2021, being driven by Marc Large.

Carlisle Crown Court heard the couple had stepped into the road when the lights were on red for pedestrians.

Mr Large, 49, from Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, denies two counts of causing death by careless driving.

The couple, from Carlisle, were using the West Tower Street traffic lights when they were hit by the Mercedes sprinter van.

Crash investigator Sgt Steve Wakefield, from Cumbria Police, told the jury that the defendant failed to see the pedestrians for a significant amount of time in excess of five seconds.

Mr Wakefield found no skid marks on the road after the collision, the court heard.

He also said in a reconstruction he found sunlight did not affect his ability to see pedestrians on the same stretch of road.

The jury has heard from witnesses who described hearing the defendant’s van accelerating moments before the crash.

Defence witness Graham Greatrix, a forensic investigator, told the hearing that because of bright sunshine that day the couple were in shadow, making them difficult for the defendant to see.

The court heard Mr Large's prepared statement to police saying: "I was not distracted and my mind was on my driving.”

The motorcycle trader had been returning to the north-east of England.

He stated: “I really can’t explain how this collision occurred as I never saw the couple until a split second before I hit them.”

The jury of nine men and three women was told it had to consider whether the defendant’s driving fell below that of a competent and careful driver, in order to convict.

It will return on Friday to continue its deliberations.

The trial continues.