Crash victim had 'no time to react'
BY JODY O'CALLAGHAN
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The speeding history of a young man who was killed when a car u-turned in front of his motorbike was presented as evidence in court yesterday.
The driver of the car, Stevee Renee Williams, 30, is defending charges of careless driving causing death and injury in the Palmerston North District Court before Judge Alastair Garland.
Police claim that her sudden turning manoeuvre outside a Rugby St dairy caused the death of 22-year- old Oliver Moreton and also injury to his pillion rider and girlfriend Hayley Stewart on November 25, 2007.
The pair had been riding along Rugby St on their way to take Moreton's grandmother shopping on the hot Sunday, the court was told.
During cross examination of the officer in charge of the case, Michael Quinn, defence lawyer Phil Drummond presented a police document which showed the motorbike rider had been issued five previous demerit deductions for speeding.
The document was presented to Judge Garland as evidence.
Serious Crash Unit's Constable Chris Pelosi, however, said that his calculations showed excess speed by Moreton could be "discounted".
It was also most probable Ms Williams did not see the bike coming, he said.
"It can be seen as the main causing factor in this crash.
"The rider has had no time to react . . . appears no time until the point of impact."
He predicted that Moreton would have only seen a "wall in front of him".
Mr Drummond put it to Constable Pelosi that the bike was fitted with a "slider" - a common accessory on racing bikes to prevent it gouging into the road at speed.
Defence witness David Marshall told the court that he watched while Ms Williams looked left and right before pulling her car on to the road to be able to see past his van that was blocking her way.
In his view the road was clear - but when he looked back "the bike was quick".
"My impression [of the driver's speed] is what we all do, just over 60km.
"As I was looking in the mirror, I noticed the operator of the bike, he was either looking at something or talking to someone in the back."
Mr Marshall also spoke of his trouble in getting his eye-witness statement to police - it was never collected off him.
The hearing continues today.
- © Fairfax NZ News
