Driver 'on hands-free phone during fatal collision'

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

A driver who knocked down and killed a couple on a pedestrian crossing was using his hands-free mobile phone at the time, a court has heard.

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

Carlisle Crown Court heard the couple stepped into the road when the lights were on red for pedestrians, but also that Mr Large was on an outgoing call at the time of the collision.

The 49-year-old, from Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, denies two charges of causing death by careless driving.

'Caught in sun's glare'

In the prosecution opening speech on Monday, the court heard CCTV showed Mr Abson and Miss Lands were hit at 12:52 GMT as they used the West Tower Street traffic lights.

The court heard a mobile phone seized from Mr 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, that the phone was in Mr Large’s hand at the time.

His vehicle was fitted with an “infotainment” system allowing hands-free Bluetooth connection, the court heard.

Mr Abson and Miss Lands, both from Carlisle, had started to cross the road when the lights for pedestrians were red.

The jury was also told, according to CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, the traffic lights for vehicles had turned to amber as Mr Large’s van came towards the crossing.

Witness Rita Simpson told the hearing that she spoke to the defendant moments after the collision, who said he did not see the couple because he had been caught in the sun's glare.

'Split second'

Mr Evans told the jury: "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 deceased were already on the road as he was approaching the lights".

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

Motorcycle trader, Mr Large, had been returning to the north-east of England with two motorcycles.

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.”

Prosecutor Mr Evans told the jury: “Carelessness or not is the issue at the heart of this case."

The trial, which is expected to last four days, continues.