Why death-crash driver lost control

Date published: 05 June 2012


A driver from Oldham accused of causing death by dangerous driving told a court he hit something in the road that caused him to lose control.

Vykintas Semezys (21), of Chester Street, is on trial at Bolton Crown Court following the death of great-grandfather Alexander Nicolson (77) after a smash in Westhoughton in December.

Witnesses say he had been speeding when he ploughed into a vehicle carrying a family heading home from a night playing bingo.

Giving evidence through an interpreter, Semezys denied driving at more than 40mph.

He told the jury he hit something in the road that caused him to lose control.

He added: “I was trying and doing the best I could, but I did not manage to regain control.”

The court heard that after Mr Nicolson died three days after the collision, Semezys allegedly made up a story about him being overtaken by another driver.

PROCEEDING


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