Death crash driver fails to win appeal
A COMPANY director has lost his fight to overturn his conviction for careless driving after an accident which resulted in the death of Southamp-ton University's security supervisor.
Gary Reynolds, 50, died when his Harley Davidson collided with Stephen Stratton's BMW as it emerged from a side road near Kanes Hill on the A27.
The city crown court heard that Mr Reynolds, who lived in Old Street, Stubbington, was thrown over the bonnet of the car in the crash which happened at dusk on a dismal evening in October 2005.
The victim was thrown into bushes at the side of the road and died of a ruptured aorta.
Stratton, 50, had just left a small industrial unit where he ran a sheet metal business.
He said he had looked both ways before pulling out of the junction and hearing a bang.
He claimed his line of sight had been obscured by foliage and a lamp standard.
But that was rejected by Judge John Boggis QC who sat with two magistrates during the appeal.
The judge said: "We are sure he looked both ways and we are also sure he lost concentration for a moment.
"He began to pull out before making a final check to his right, the critical place to look."
Stratton, who formerly lived in Eastleigh but now lives in Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, had been fined £2,000 with £625 costs by Southampton magistrates.
After losing the appeal, he was ordered to pay a further £750 costs.
11:00am Sunday 3rd June 2007
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CommentPosted by: Adrian Smith, Elevated section of the M4 (East bound) on 7:52am Mon 4 Jun 07
"He claimed his line of sight had been obscured by foliage and a lamp standard.".
All the more reason to turn with extreme caution.
"He claimed his line of sight had been obscured by foliage and a lamp standard.".
All the more reason to turn with extreme caution.
Posted by: A Cyclist, Southampton on 9:08pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Hang on a minute, this so-called "driver" KILLED a motorcyclist just because he couldn't be bothered to look properly!!! And he has the cheek to whinge about a fine! He should have been banged up for that. As a cyclist I encounter people like Stratton on the roads every day, and the only reason I'm still alive is because I don't take anything for granted - even when i've got right of way. Oh well, I suppose I'll just jump back into my car and add to the congestion and global warming. I don't see why I should go on risking my life as there seems to be no deterrent for people to knock me off my bike and splatter me all over the road; all they have to do is claim they didn't see me and they get let off with a small fine. And I thought this govt was supposed to be encouraging people to get out of their cars.
Hang on a minute, this so-called "driver" KILLED a motorcyclist just because he couldn't be bothered to look properly!!! And he has the cheek to whinge about a fine! He should have been banged up for that. As a cyclist I encounter people like Stratton on the roads every day, and the only reason I'm still alive is because I don't take anything for granted - even when i've got right of way. Oh well, I suppose I'll just jump back into my car and add to the congestion and global warming. I don't see why I should go on risking my life as there seems to be no deterrent for people to knock me off my bike and splatter me all over the road; all they have to do is claim they didn't see me and they get let off with a small fine. And I thought this govt was supposed to be encouraging people to get out of their cars.
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