Drivers charged over bypass crash that killed dad

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

Two drivers will appear in court over the death of a father in a crash as he travelled with his young family.

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

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

Neal Foster, 36, and Jake Atkinson, 30, have been charged with causing Mr Sivaramakrishnan's death.

West Yorkshire Police said at the time of the incident that a blue BMW M5 and a gold Volvo S60 were travelling towards Snow Hill on the Wrenthorpe bypass when they collided with each other before the BMW then struck the family's Citroen.

BMW driver Mr Foster, of Woodhouse Road, Wakefield, and Volvo driver Mr Atkinson, of Crownlands Lane, Ossett, appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 3 July.

Mr Foster is charged with one count of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Mr Atkinson is charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving and also faces three counts of causing serious injury to the victim's wife, Aarthi Kannan, and to the couple's two children by dangerous driving.

Both men will appear at Leeds Crown Court on 31 July for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

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