Motorist described horror of killing Leeds pedestrian, but expert admitted he was 'driving carefully'
Man killed in tragedy was stood stationary in the road as van approached slowly
A van driver described the moment he reversed over and killed a man on a Leeds street, telling police it was “absolutely awful”.
Martin Rowse is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of causing death by careless driving.
Uroy Randal, 47, was killed on Blakeney Road in Belle Isle on a dark winter’s evening on January 25, 2023.
Rowse, 57, had been reversing slowly along the street and failed to see Mr Randal, who was stood in the road.
The Crown says that Rowse should have turned his vehicle around in the turning circle at the end of the cul-de-sac, rather than reverse the 188 metres to the road entrance.
On day three of the trial, the transcripts of Rowse’s police interview following the tragedy were read to the jury.
Asked why he did not turn the van around, Rowse told officers he felt parked cars restricted the ability, so opted to reverse instead.
He said: “It’s a large vehicle. It really is hard to turn it around in certain confined spaces.
He added: “I was reversing back slowly and checking both sides [wing mirrors]. I could just not see him at all.
“I reversed back very, very carefully. I was not in any kind of rush at all.”
Rowse said he and his passenger got out quickly after feeling Mr Randal go under the wheels. He said he dragged him from under the Renault Master while his passenger dialled 999.
Rowse was described as being “distraught” and “shellshocked” by what had happened.
He told police: “It was absolutely awful, I can’t tell you. I just know he needed help and needed it quick.”
Rowse said he helped give him CPR until paramedics arrived and could take over.
Quizzed by the police as to why he did not use his passenger as a banksman - to stand behind the reversing van and guide him - he said: “It never occurred to me. It never crossed my mind.”
The court heard that Mr Randal had left his nearby home at 5.30pm that evening and was heading towards a snicket at the end of Blakeney Road, so was effectively walking towards the reversing van.
He suffered from a rare congenital neurological disorder, Sturge-Webber syndrome, that can cause seizures. He also had other disorders, including schizophrenia.
He had traces of cannabis in his system, although it was unknown if the drug would have affected him prior to his death.
Footage played to jury showed him stood still in the road as the van approached.
Giving evidence in court, a forensic collision expert could not explain why Mr Randal was stood stationary for seven seconds before the van struck him.
He said it was only at the very last moment did he try to move, by which time it was too late.
Asked to describe Rowse’s driving from the footage he saw prior to the death, the investigator said it was “careful”.
The trial continues.