Jury out in driver's trial over runaway van death

Christopher White (39) of Fenn Road, Tankersley, pleaded not guilty to the offence after his work van crashed into Michael Mills (54) on Howard Street, Rotherham.

The incident happened on August 21, 2014, at around 3.45pm and Mr Mills, who lived in Rotherham, was pronounced dead at the scene.

When the trial began on Monday, the jury at Sheffield Crown Court heard White had parked his Volkswagen Transporter Van outside the Mace Shop to deliver soft drinks.

Mr Simon Waley, prosecuting, said the Highway Code gives advice, which was not mandatory, to drivers about parking on a hill and suggests leaving a vehicle in gear and turning the wheels to curb.

Mr Waley told the jury that if White had taken these steps the van would have not rolled down hill, which had a gradient of ten per cent.

He said the jury needed to consider if White, by not taking these precautions, was a careless driver.

White said he knew of the advice, but had not felt it was necessary on Howard Street.

Defending, Mr Ian Bridge, said in his summing up: “There’'s not a day that goes by when he (White) does not think about what happened that day and wishes more than anything he could turn the clock back.

“It was an absolutely hideous event, poor fellow walking down the pavement was hit by his vehicle.”

Mr Bridge said there was a “catastrophic brake failure”.

Mr Bridge said the jury had to be sure that the driving, which was parking in this case, fell below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver.

“It’s up to you to find out what a competent and careful driver would do in these circumstances,” said Mr Bridge.

He added it was difficult to breach a rule that was advisory and perhaps it was the wrong word to call it a rule.

Mr Bridge added: “There was a blatant defect in that handbrake mechanism that they have not been able to expose, but we know it’s there.”

“Did he do any differently than what an ordinary driver would have done?”