Nurse died in tragic collision on Nottinghamshire road

There was “no need” for a collision which was “entirely avoidable” and cost a nurse his life, a jury heard. Solomon Billa’s Skoda made contact with Chris Germany’s BMW on the A616 Ollerton[1] Road, Kneesall, on June 26, 2021. Nottingham Crown Court[2] heard the Skoda left the road to the right, went down a small embankment and into a tree. “That tragically cost the life of Mr Billa,” said Alex Wolfson, prosecuting at Germany’s trial.

The 55-year-old, of Rufford Lane, Rufford, pleads not guilty to causing Mr Billa’s death by careless driving. Lorry driver Nigel White saw most of what happened in his mirror. Mr Billa was behind him in the Skoda.

Behind the Skoda was Germany in a dark grey BMW X3. The speed limit for that stretch of road was 50mph. Mr White was driving just under 55mph – “so technically he was going a little too fast”, said Mr Wolfson.

Germany decided to overtake Mr Billa and Mr White’s lorry in one manoeuvre. Whilst he was overtaking – Mr Billa also decided to overtake the lorry. “Mr Germany, as you can imagine, he is going past both of them, as he gets to a point when it is too late for Mr Germany to break hard enough and scrub off enough speed to let Mr Billa out,” explained Mr Wolfson. “There was contact between these two vehicles.

“Mr Germany already braked for 30-odd metres at the point of contact”. A jury, sworn on Wednesday (April 12) at Germany’s trial, heard he was voluntarily interviewed by police[4] and accepted he was the driver. He said he was taking his son back to school.

He thought he was driving around the speed limit. A truck in front, he thought, was probably going just under the speed limit – and for him it was a perfectly safe overtake – but for the actions of the Skoda. But the prosecution say it was careless due to the speeds.

Mr Billa pulled out during Germany’s overtake of the truck. Mr Wolfson said Mr Billa was speeding at 65mph at the point of contact. Mr German, going past Mr Billa, must have been going faster than that, because he scrubbed off some speed in 30 metres of braking, alleged Mr Wolfson.

He added that there was “no need for this collision” and “this was entirely unavoidable” and there was no reason for “anybody to be overtaking”.

The trial continues

References

1. ^ Ollerton (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ Nottingham Crown Court (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ Arsonist started fire when armed police descended on flat (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ police (www.nottinghampost.com)