Woman, 21 killed in head-on crash after learner driver drank alcohol, court told
Two young drivers accused of killing a woman in a head-on car crash were driving "competitively" following a trip to a beach, a court has been told.
Passenger Ella Smith died in the crash in a car driven Jago Clarke in a collision between Broad Haven and Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire on June 13, 2021. Clark and co-accusd Emma Price, who was driving another vehicle, are accused of causing the 21-year-old's death by dangerous driving. They both deny the charges.
Prosecutors told the court that Clarke and Price, both of whom were learner drivers, were driving "competitively" when Clarke lost control of a white Ford Ka and crashed into an oncoming car, a collision which not only claimed the life of his passenger but also caused serious injury to the passenger in the oncoming car.
Price's blue Citroen was not physically involved in the collision but the prosecution have said she is equally responsible due to the manner of her driving in the run up to the crash. The trial at Swansea Crown Court heard evidence from Luis Heathfield who had been part of a group of friends who gathered on Broad Haven beach to "chill" late on the afternoon.
Ella was just 21 years old (WALES NEWS SERVICE)Mr Heathfield said he saw the defendant, Clarke, sipping from a bottle of Budweiser beer at the beach and mixing vodka and Sourz in an old lemonade bottle. He described Clarke as "bragging" about driving and being "cocky" and he said he could smell alcohol on him. Mr Heathfield said he told Clarke not to drive because it was "stupid".
Drink-driver steals JCB digger to smash into family house in revenge attack
The witness told the court that arrangements were made for Ella Smith to come to Broad Haven to collect Clarke, and they all met at the beach's main car park. He said he saw Clarke getting into the driver's seat of Miss Smith's Ka and saw Miss Smith climbing over the centre console into the passenger seat.
The witness said at that point he shouted to Clarke "Don't be a f*****g idiot", before leaving the car park in his girlfriend's Fiat. Mr Heathfield told the court his partner was driving the car, he was the front seat passenger, and there was a friend sat in the back.
Mr Heathfield told the court that near Portfield Gate on the B4341 he saw in the mirrors of the Fiat that Price in her Citroen was behind them, and Clarke in the Ford was behind her. He said that both the cars behind him were "swerving" from side to side, and he said he thought Price was trying to stop Clarke from passing her.
He said he then saw Clarke's car pull into the left and clip the kerb before, "twisting and turning", it crossed into the opposite carriageway and into the path of an oncoming Seat car. Mr Heathfield said there was a "loud bang" and the Ford ended up in the hedge on the wrong side of the road.
The trial also heard evidence from driver, Rowan Fair, who was in the oncoming Seat involved in the crash. He told the court he and his partner Daisy Buck were heading to Broad Haven when, at a bend in the road just outside Portfield Gate, he saw two cars - one blue, one white - "side by side" heading in his direction and travelling "very fast".
In response, he told the court he took his foot off the accelerator. The witness said he saw the blue car completing an overtaking manoeuvre of the white car and returning to the correct lane, and saw the white car "pull to the left" as though it was letting the blue car pull in front of it. Mr Fair said he then saw the white car hit the hedge on the nearside and "fly back out" across the road into his path. The witness said he had no time to react or avoid the collision.
The court was told Mr Fair's passenger, Miss Buck, was seriously injured in the collision. Giving her evidence, Miss Buck said she could not recall seeing the white and blue cars prior to the crash but could remember a "horrendous impact" and seeing an open wound on her leg and thinking "it was not good".
Jago Clarke, 21, of Sunningdale Drive, Hubberston, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has admitted a lesser alternative of causing death by careless driving, and has admitted causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured.
Emma Price, 21, of Holloway, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.
Drunk easyJet passenger groped female flight attendant and tried to trip another
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
