Van driver guilty after pedestrians killed in crash

The court heard the couple were "devoted" to each other

A van driver has been found guilty of causing the deaths of two pedestrians through careless driving.

Terry Abson and Gina Lands, a couple from Carlisle, were struck by a vehicle driven by Marc Large, on 1 March 2021.

A jury at Carlisle Crown Court found the 49-year-old guilty of two counts of causing death by careless driving.

Large, of Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, has been banned immediately from driving and will be sentenced in March.

He sat with his head bowed in the dock as the verdicts were given on Friday.

'Devoted to each other'

Mr Abson, who was 62, died at the scene, while Miss Lands, who was 56, died in hospital a week later.

They were described in court as "devoted" to each other.

Large, a motorcycle trader, had been returning to the north-east of England when the crash happened in the city's West Tower Street.

The court heard the couple had stepped into the road when the lights were on red for pedestrians.

Large had claimed to be blinded by sunlight when his van knocked the couple down.

However, the court was told a police reconstruction found no evidence that sunlight could affect a driver’s ability to see people on the crossing.

No evidence of skidding or an emergency stop could be found on the road either, although it was acknowledged that Large was not speeding.

The couple, described by their families as "caring parents" who were "generous and selfless", had volunteered at the Uma Kadampa Centre in Carlisle.

Judge Fanning told Large that a pre-sentence report would be completed before sentencing on 22 March.

“I make no promises how I will deal with you, it is a serious matter. Two people have died," he said.

“But, I am also realistic, this is careless driving, it was not dangerous driving.”

The judge also told the couple's family members that the court was sorry for their loss, and thanked them for their “dignified presence” throughout the trial.

Additional reporting by Pamela Bilalova