Lorry driver who killed motorist on A164 cleared after court case collapses
A LORRY driver who killed a motorist has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving after his trial collapsed.
It followed the revelation by a police collision investigator that the driver had a shorter stopping distance than he had put in his report.
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TRIAL OVER: Lorry driver Robert Bulmer was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.
Robert Bulmer, 57, has admitted killing University of Hull employee Julie Watson, 41, by crashing into her car as she waited at traffic lights on the A164 at Jock's Lodge, close to Beverley.
Bulmer, who worked for Eddie Stobart, smashed into Mrs Watson's VW Beetle on May 23 last year.
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He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, saying his vision was obscured by the sun.
Prosecutor Mark McKone yesterday dropped the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
The Crown Prosecution Service's case had been that Bulmer had 285m to stop before hitting Mrs Watson's car and would have had 24 seconds to react.
But during the trial Humberside Police investigator Ian Charlton revealed he was not qualified at the time of the accident and conceded Bulmer could have had less then seven seconds to react, instead of 24.
The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, said: "This was an extremely weak case from the start and, in my view, it has got weaker during the progress of the prosecution evidence.
"The Crown has a continuing duty throughout a case to consider the law and evidence as it comes out to assess whether they should be asking a jury to convict. Quite frankly the jury will not convict in this case.
"Dangerous driving is reserved for to people racing each other and drinking. It is a very serious offence and I did express some doubt that this was a case of careless driving some time ago.
"We have had witness after witness saying his driving was perfectly normal."
Mr McKone told the jury he had consulted with Mrs Watson's family, the police and the CPS prior to dropping the charge.
He said: "None of us would wish to seek a conviction on death by dangerous driving."
Bulmer's barrister John Farmer criticised the police for placing Mr Charlton in charge of the accident investigation when he was not qualified.
He only qualified in December.
In cross-examination of Mr Charlton, Mr Farmer said: "You were unqualified at the start."
Mr Charlton said: "I had been in training for 18 months. All the reports have been verified. I was guided through it."
Judge Mettyear ordered a presentence report to be prepared on Bulmer, of Malton, and he will be sentenced next month.
Mrs Watson, of North Ferriby, was the director of membership services and human resources at the University of Hull's Students' Union.
She raised money for charity, completing several marathons.
Her husband John told the Mail her organs have been used to save the lives of three people.
Comments
by Troy_Rudeface
Sunday, May 13 2012, 2:37PM
“Stu - your quote reads "A GREEN ARROW may be provided in addition to the full green signal" - that says a GREEN signal, not a big RED light. Do you comprehend it now?
Robd63 - if you don't think the lights are confusing you're either unfamiliar with the lights in questions or you're part of the authorities responsible for either the installation of the lights or for this attempted conviction - as well as being very a minority on here. When a signal displays 'Stop' and 'Go' at the same time (with the 'Go' a less conspicuous arrow) you cannot express shock when drivers get confused. Not everyone is blessed with quick decision-making skills and not everyone is familiar with those lights who have the misfortune to travel thru' them”
by WhoMeNever
Friday, May 11 2012, 8:36AM
“To anyone who comments on these lights not being 'wrong' drive from Beverley to Hull and then re-assess your thinking.”
by robd63
Friday, May 11 2012, 7:19AM
“"Confusing lights"?, "Installers of the lights should be prosecuted for contributory manslaughter"?
Are you being serious? How difficult is it to understand a set of traffic lights? There are only three colours you need to understand. Green to go, amber to get ready to go or stop, and red which means stop. Regardless of whether these are the main indicators or filters, it's not that taxing surely. I couldn't believe that, at one point, the council put red and white lettered signs up explaining how to observe the lights.
I wonder if this accident had happened at an "understandable" set of traffic lights where the lady was sat not noticing the lights had changed to green, the lorry driver would still have the same amount of sympathy on here.”
by Wellbeloved3
Friday, May 11 2012, 7:05AM
“Whatever the highway code says - these lights are DANGEROUS. Someone has ordered the wrong set(seriously - they may possibly be dyslexic )as the lights are DEFINITELY the wrong way round. Very confusing. Unfortunately there will be more accidents here and these lights are fatally flawed- regardless of the highway code. Common sense should overide the code in any case. A tragic accident that could and should have been avoided. As it stands they are so confusing that either one of two things happen. a) people are oblivious to the danger and drive as if there is nothing wrong or b) they "dither" and slow or stop unneccesasrily which is equally as dangerous. Not a good road design. Needs redesigning before another tragic accident.”
by Stu_B
Thursday, May 10 2012, 10:41PM
“Confused by the lights? Its in the Highway Code.
"A GREEN ARROW may be provided in addition to the full green signal if movement in a certain direction is allowed before or after the full green phase. If the way is clear you may go but only in the direction shown by the arrow. You may do this whatever other lights may be
showing. White light signals may be provided for trams "”
by GenniElf
Thursday, May 10 2012, 10:29PM
“1st my sympathy to Mrs Watsons family
2nd lets hope he recieves minimum sentencing and can start rebuilding his life.”
by Imagine_that
Thursday, May 10 2012, 9:40PM
“embittered
He isn't denying he caused the accident - just that it was careless rather than dangerous driving.
He will still get sentenced for careless driving and it can carry a prison sentence of up to 5 years.”
by moreannoyed
Thursday, May 10 2012, 9:40PM
“Totally agree that the confusing lights may have been the true cause of this very sad loss of life.”
by Troy_Rudeface
Thursday, May 10 2012, 6:37PM
“Actually if anyone who has the misfortune to use the A164 to Beverley and be well versed in the Highway Code should know, if any 'body' should be prosecuted for contributory manslaughter it is the authority responsible for installing the ridiculous traffic lights that give a big red light for turning right and a less-conspicuous green 'filter' arrow for traffic travelling straight ahead (NOT what green filter traffic lights are for!), there wouldn't have been any confusion and ergo no accident. There will be MORE fatal smashed due to this, and yet nobody wished to raise this issue (not good for revenue or headlines I suppose) - because there will be more confused drivers slowing and stopping for the big prominent red light not realising there is a 'green' for straight ahead, and other drivers behind them paying more attention to those deadly lights than to the vehicle(s) in front.”
by David_Nivea
Thursday, May 10 2012, 5:01PM
“As usual, the law is nothing to with actual events.”