Woman denies dangerous driving after 'hero's' death

Darron Coster was a Royal Military Police veteran

A woman has pleaded not guilty to causing the death of a Manchester Arena terror attack "hero" by dangerous driving.

Darron Coster, 54, had been waiting to collect his son at the venue but ran in to help after a bomb was detonated during a concert in 2017.

He was killed in a head-on crash with a car in Wigglesworth, North Yorkshire, while riding his motorbike on 14 July 2021.

Jacqueline Higson, 65, of Chatburn, Lancashire, denied the charge at Bradford Crown Court on Friday, and is now set to face a trial scheduled for 14 April 2025.

However, John Dye, defending Ms Higson, said she may admit the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.

Jane Brady said the prosecution "would consider" this.

Ms Higson was released on bail.

Family members of both Ms Higson and Mr Coster were present in court.

'Hero'

Mr Coster, from Accrington, Lancashire, was a Royal Military Police veteran and used his training to treat casualties at the Manchester Arena bombing.

He was called a "hero" at an inquiry into the atrocity.

Mr Coster had served in Northern Ireland, where he gained experience of blast injuries, and was able to apply tourniquets to victims.

He was also the person who closed the doors to the scene to protect onlookers from trauma.

After leaving the Army, Mr Coster worked in training and development for a road haulage firm and as a mechanic in professional motorsport.

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