Heart attack or health issue ‘only explanation’ for A14 death crash …
Summing up in the case of Sergejs Baikovs, Ian Bridge told Ipswich Crown Court that ‘experts’ had agreed that Maurice Brame had slowed suddenly because he was feeling unwell, which led to Baikovs’ lorry ploughing into his bike near Copdock interchange.
Earlier in the hearing, the court had heard Mr Brame had an undiagnosed cardiovascular condition which would have made him ‘susceptible to sudden death at any time’ when his bike slowed from 50mph to 25mph and then to 14mph before being struck on September 21 last year.
Baikovs has denied causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving during the collision shortly before 6am.
Mr Bridge also highlighted differences in the clarity of the view provided by roadside cameras, which had been shown to the court and Baikovs’ own vision from the cab as he said he was unable to see the motorbike in the dark prior to the collision.
He added it was ‘extraordinarily difficult’ for Baikovs to see the red light on the back of Mr Brame’s bike, adding that the lorry driver was also confused by vibrations, jolting and lights in the cab after the Volvo’s emergency breaking system was activated.
Ipswich Crown Court heard a health issue had been the cause of the crash on the A14 (Image: Archant)
“Whether it was a heart attack or medical event or something wrong with the cardiovascular system, for some reason Mr Brame slowed down in the dark to an unpredictable speed on a very dangerous road in this part of the world,” Mr Bridge said.
However, Peter Clark, prosecuting, said vehicles could have to slow for any reason, including to avoid an animal entering the road, or potholes and drivers had to be able to anticipate this.
In addition, he said the dual carriageway could be used by slower moving vehicles, such as farm vehicles and pedal cycles.
He said although Mr Brame could have had a heart attack, there was no evidence that a health issue of this nature had caused him to slow his bike down, while the reason Baikovs had not seen the bike was because he was not ‘paying proper attention’ and had been distracted.
“The defendant simply did not see the motorcycle. He showed a complete lack of awareness of the road ahead and the vehicles around him.
“He had no perception of what was going on as he drove along the A14 that morning,” Mr Clark added.
In previous hearings, the court was told Baikovs was not speeding at the time of the incident, was not using his mobile phone and was not under the influence of drink or drugs.
Last week, Baikovs, of Tattersall Road, Boston, addressed Tostock man Mr Brame’s family and asked them to accept his ‘deep apologies for this tragedy’.
The trial continues.
References
- ^ A14 crash: Lorry driver saw bike rider get flung into road (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ A14 Ipswich: Sergejs Baikovs trial starts next week (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ A14: Trial of lorry driver accused of killing motorcyclist (www.ipswichstar.co.uk)
- ^ Ipswich news (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ Suffolk news (www.eadt.co.uk)