Brothers deny Sellafield crash driving offences

Two men have been charged after a vehicle hit two people on a picket line outside Sellafield

Two men have appeared in court to deny driving offences relating to a crash at a picket line outside a nuclear facility.

Police said a Polaris Ranger off-road vehicle struck two people taking part in industrial action at the Calder Gate entrance to Sellafield in Cumbria on Wednesday, with another vehicle also involved.

A 55-year-old man suffered serious injuries and is now in a stable condition in hospital. Another man was less seriously hurt.

Brothers Craig Fawcett, 50 and from Seascale, and Albert Darren Fawcett, 52, of Gosforth, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court where they denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving and dangerous driving respectively.

Two teenagers, aged 19 and 16, who were also arrested have been bailed while investigations continue.

Strike action

The court heard the hospitalised man suffered rib and collarbone fractures and a head injury.

Prosecutors alleged in court that Craig Fawcett drove the Polaris Ranger vehicle which struck two people and Albert Darren Fawcett drove an Isuzu truck dangerously down the same road.

The men were granted bail and case was sent to Carlisle Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 October.

The picket line was linked to four days of strike action by construction staff employed by contractors at Sellafield.

Cumbria Police asked people not to share video footage which has been circulating.