A MOTORIST whose van collided with an Atherton motorcyclist causing fatal injuries may have been distracted by talking on his mobile phone moments before the East Lancs Road crash.
The accident happened at 7pm on November 15 last year at Haydock Island when Kevin Moran, 45, of Rochdale turned right in front of 40 years-old Gary Smith who was riding through green traffic lights at Haydock Island.
Mr Smith died in hospital three days later.
At Liverpool Crown Court Trevor Parry-Jones, prosecuting, claimed Moran's van turned right despite numerous signs forbidding such a move and caused the accident.
Mr Parry-Jones said: "No competent driver would make that turn, even if they did not see the signs. He must have been distracted because he was talking only seconds before the collision. Was he in the process of putting the telephone down?"
He said alarm installer Moran was on his mobile phone for more than four minutes to a colleague travelling nearby along the same road.
In a police interview van driver Moran said he had not seen the signs and when he began to turn the motorcycle seemed to come from nowhere.
Moran has pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
(Proceeding)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article