Driver 'did not brake enough' before fatal crash

Terence Abson died at the scene while Gina Lands died in hospital a week later

A van driver who knocked down and killed a couple on a pedestrian crossing did not brake significantly prior to the point of impact, a court has heard.

Terence Abson, 62, and Gina Lands, 56, were struck by a Mercedes sprinter driven by Marc Large, in Carlisle city centre, on 1 March 2021, a jury was told.

Crash investigator Sgt Steve Wakefield told Carlisle Crown Court he did not find any skid marks on the road after the crash.

Mr Large, 49, from Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, denies two charges of causing death by careless driving.

Tests after crash

The court had heard that the couple, both from Carlisle, had started to cross the road when the lights for pedestrians were red.

Witness Rita Simpson told the hearing that she spoke to the defendant moments after the collision and he said he did not see the couple due to the sun's glare.

However, Mr Wakefield, of Cumbria Police, said that during tests carried out after the crash, he had found that sunlight had not affected his ability to see pedestrians on the same stretch of road.

He said he estimated that the couple had been on the road for more than five seconds and the defendant had failed to see them just before the collision.

He added that he believed Mr Large was driving within the 30mph speed limit.

"I do not consider speed as a contributory factor, more a symptom of distraction," Mr Wakefield said.

Defence witness Graham Greatrix, a forensic investigator, told the hearing that because of bright sunshine that day the couple were in shadow making them difficult for the defendant to see.

The jury also heard from witnesses who described hearing the defendant’s van accelerating moments before the crash.

The trial continues.