Driver denies causing fatal bypass crash

Ravi Venkatesh Sivaramakrishnan, 38, died in the crash and his wife and children were seriously injured

A driver has denied causing the death of a father who died in a crash in West Yorkshire.

Ravi Venkatesh Sivaramakrishnan, 38, was killed when two other cars collided with his Citroen Picasso on the A650 Bradford Road in Wakefield on 9 March 2022.

His wife was left seriously injured and their daughters, then aged four and 10, were treated in hospital.

At Leeds Crown Court, Jake Atkinson pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Neal Foster, also charged in connection with the crash, did not enter a plea during the hearing.

At the time of the incident, West Yorkshire Police said a blue BMW M5 and a gold Volvo S60 were travelling towards Snow Hill on the Wrenthorpe bypass when they collided with each other.

The BMW then struck the family's Citroen, the force said.

Mr Atkinson, 30, of Crownlands Lane, Ossett, also denies causing serious injury to Mr Sivaramakrishnan's wife and to the couple's two children by dangerous driving.

Mr Foster, 36, of Woodhouse Road, Wakefield, is charged with one count of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Both men were released on bail until a further hearing on 24 October.

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