Driver ‘killed a drunken great grandmother after mistaking her for rubbish bag in road’
A DRIVER ran over and killed a drunk great grandmother after mistaking her for a rubbish bag in the road, a court heard.
Ian Catley, 71, was driving his Suzuki Alto late at night when he saw a dark object on the road in front of him, jurors were told.
Ian Catley, 71, ran over and killed a pensioner after mistaking her for a bin bag, a court heard[/caption] Great grandmother Jackie Bradnick, 71, suffered 53 rib fractures, skull fractures and internal injuries[/caption]He said that because it was a wet night he decided against swerving and drove straight on.
His vehicle crushed pensioner Jackie Bradnick, 71, whose appalling injuries included 53 rib fractures, skull fractures and internal injuries.
A court heard that Catley stopped when he realised he had hit something solid, but he told police he had no idea the object in the road was a human being.
Isabel Delamere, prosecuting, said Catley, who runs his own PR and communications company, is charged with causing death by careless driving because he should have taken evasive action.
‘LOUD BANG’
The collision took place on a 30mph road in Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, at about 11.05pm on January 18, 2019.
Mrs Bradnick had just got off a bus and was described as ‘staggering’ and ‘stumbling’ after drinking in Bournemouth.
She ended up lying flat on her back in the road, although it is not clear how this happened.
Catley, who was in the trail of traffic, then drove over Mrs Bradnick who was wearing dark clothing.
Miss Delamere said Mrs Bradnick “appeared confused and intoxicated” when she got off the bus, and was “staggering and stumbling”.
A witness says he heard a loud bang and something flew up into the air and above the roof of a car
Isabel Delamere, prosecuting
She said: “A witness then says he heard a loud bang and something flew up into the air and above the roof of a car.
“They said Mrs Bradnick ended up on her back in the road and was driven over by another car.
“Mr Catley stopped at the scene and said to officers he had seen something lying in the road but he had driven over it as he thought it was a rubbish bag.
“He said in his police interview he didn’t veer left or right as the road was wet.
“He expected the item to flatten but it was like concrete so he knew straight away something was wrong.
“He said he didn’t know it was a human being and he was doing his normal driving.”
‘KNOCKED INTO THE AIR’
The prosecution claimed he was driving without due care and attention as he had time take take evasive action like other drivers, but didn’t.
Miss Delamere added: “We’re not suggesting for one minute he knew it was her but he took the decision to drive over that person.”
A toxicology report revealed Mrs Bradnick was two-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit, while Catley provided a negative breath test.
Firefighter William Dring rushed to Mrs Bradnick’s aid and stopped other cars behind from hitting her as well.
He said: “I heard a really loud bang and looked up and saw something thrown into the air and shopping go all over the place.
“She was knocked into the air, came back down and landed on her back.
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“The first vehicle made no attempt to slow down and then a second car drove over her.”
Catley, from Bournemouth, denies a charge of causing death by careless driving.
The trial continues.
Mr Catley has denied causing death by careless driving at Bournemouth Crown Court[/caption]