Death driver never read Highway Code, jury told

Audi driver Albert Jarosz had not read The Highway Code, a jury was told

A driver whose turbo-charged car hit and killed a pedestrian on a crossing has told a jury he had never read The Highway Code.

Albert Jarosz, 27, admits causing Rodrigo-Vasile Cosma's death by careless driving - but denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Jurors at his trial in Luton Crown Court have seen CCTV footage of 25-year-old Mr Cosma being hit and thrown into the air in Bedford town centre in March 2024.

The trial has heard how a police crash investigator made a "conservative" estimate that the Audi A6, capable of 0 to 60 mph in about six seconds, was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph zone.

Mr Jarosz, a car body worker, of Brereton Road, Bedford, told jurors he had been born in Poland and moved to the UK in 2019.

He said he had exchanged a Polish driving licence for a UK one and had been driving in the UK for about four years before the collision.

Sam Barker, prosecuting, asked Mr Jarosz on Tuesday: "Have you ever read The Highway Code?"

Mr Jarosz answered: "No, I did not."

He said no-one had told him to read it and that he thought the rules of the road in Britain were "similar" to those in other countries.

'Selfish decision'

Mr Barker has told jurors how the accident happened at about 18:30 GMT on 26 March 2024 at the junction of Midland Road, River Street and Greyfriars in Bedford.

He said Mr Cosma was jogging over the crossing just after traffic lights turned green.

Mr Jarosz had got ahead of vehicles, which had been waiting at the crossing lights, by moving into a left-hand lane, then cutting back into a right-hand lane, he added.

Mr Barker argued that Mr Jarosz had made a "selfish decision" to "shave a few seconds" off his journey.

Mr Jarosz is on trial at Luton Crown Court

Mr Jarosz told jurors he had been driving home from a garage where he worked in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

He said he was not familiar with the road layout in that area of Bedford.

"I just followed the road but, before the traffic lights, I realised I am in the wrong lane, so I decided to change lanes," Mr Jarosz, who gave evidence with the help of an interpreter, told the trial.

"I thought I had got enough time to get in front of the stationary cars."

He added: "I accelerated a bit just to get in front of the cars."

Jurors heard that shortly after the accident, Mr Jarosz had told police he knew he was "driving a little bit fast" but that Mr Cosma had been crossing the road on a red light.

The jury has been told that Mr Jarosz had stopped and called 999 after the accident.

A witness said he saw the defendant with his head in his hands, saying: "I am sorry."

The case continues.