Man denies causing death by dangerous driving after Ribble Valley crash

4:41pm Monday 12th May 2008

A 61-YEAR-OLD man was killed when he was struck by a passing vehicle as he watched a recovery truck lift a car from a ditch, a jury was told.

Michael Parker had just come out of his home early one morning to watch what was going on when he was hit.

The incident happened in the Preston New Road area of Mellor Brook in November 2006.

Sajjad Munawar, 28, of Deepdale Road, Preston, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

At the start of the trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury was told that the accident took place on a gentle right hand bend.

Mr Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said that a recovery truck was in the process of lifting a BMW out of a ditch. The truck was facing traffic coming from Preston and had its headlights on and flashing amber lights on top, he said.

Munawar was driving from Preston to Blackburn at the time.

There was a 50mph speed limit and the defendant was presented with a dilemma as he got closer to the truck with traffic coming the other way, the court was told.

Mr Lamberty claimed that Munawar "elected to go on the inside", therefore going across the mouth of a junction.

"People were watching what was going on. Mr Parker was one of those.

"He had just come out of his house to watch what was going on. He was killed straight away. Two others were very lucky to escape without a scratch.

"One person felt the wind of a passing vehicle."

Mr Parker died at the scene.

The prosecution claim that Munawar's driving fell far below standard.

Mr Lamberty alleged that he had not slowed down, but gone "bowling on."

(proceeding)

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