Driving instructor died after being hit by lorry

Richard Wills pictured outside court

A driving instructor was crushed to death by a Highways Maintenance lorry as he and the truck driver both stopped to help at the scene of an earlier crash, a jury was told today.

Geoffrey Smith pulled over his driving school car and was walking back along the grass verge to the accident when Richard Wills also stopped in his lorry and began reversing along the verge, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Moments later the huge tipper ran over Mr Smith and he was killed.

Today Wills went on trial for causing the death of Mr Smith by careless driving. He denied the charge as he stood in the dock.

The tragedy happened as both men stopped to see if they could help rookie driver Joshua French whose car had overturned and crashed off the dual carriageway, landing on its roof in a ditch.

The court heard how Wills was on his way to a road repair job with his co-worker when they noticed the overturned car in the verge beside a dual carriageway. Wills stopped in the inside lane of the carriageway and reversed to get closer to the accident.

His co-worker, Michael McAdam, was trying to get in contact with their supervisor to call the emergency services but said he stopped when he heard a bump.

The jury heard that that Wills had reversed his highway maintenance tipper truck into Mr Smith and crushed him beneath the back wheels.

Kim Preston, prosecuting, told the jury: ‘On December 30 2015, a young man, Joshua French, who had passed his driving test only about six months before, was driving along the A4260 just after 8 o’clock in the morning. He was travelling close to Middle Aston, Oxfordshire.

Geoffrey Smith pictured alongside his instructor car. He was killed after stopping t the scene to help a car crash victim

‘The road is a dual carriageway. Mr French lost control of his vehicle and came off the road. He crashed into the verge, his car flipped over onto its roof and came to rest.

‘We know that Joshua French, just before the accident, happened to notice another car on the road just ahead of him.

‘That was car driven by Geoffrey Smith, a driving instructor. We know he stopped his car straight after the accident happened.

‘Mr Smith must have seen he accident that happened just behind him. He stopped his car, pulled over to the side of the road, parked up and turned the hazard lights on.

Today Wills went on trial for causing the death of elderly Mr Smith by careless driving. He denies the charge

‘He got out of his car and was walking back along to where this car had came off the road.’

She explained that a few moments after, the defendant was travelling along the same stretch of road in a Ford Transit tipper van with, Michael McAdam, who said that they should stop after noticing the accident.

‘The defendant doesn’t stop and get out, doesn’t use the passenger to help him, doesn’t drive on and turn around. What he does is put the vehicle into reverse and starts reversing back up the dual carriageway and hits Geoffrey Smith who is crushed beneath the back rear wheels of the tipper,’ Ms Preston said.

Mr McAdam gave evidence at the trial today. He said that on that day they had started work at 7.30am in Deddington, Oxfordshire, got their daily worksheet and were on their way to a road repair job in Stanton.

He said: ‘We were driving along, noticed skid marks going into the grass verge and then saw an overturned car in the ditch.

Oxford Crown Court heard Mr Smith died after being crushed under the back wheels of the truck

‘I noticed an elderly gentleman walking on the grass verge and had seen a car overturned. We didn’t know if anyone was in the car so I said, “right, we need to help”.

‘I noticed an elderly gentleman walking on the grass verge and assumed he was from the stationary car coming back to help as well. We stopped, put on the hazards and I tried to get my phone to call my supervisor to get the emergency services out.’ 

‘As we reversed we heard the bump and that is when I looked in my passenger mirror and Mr Wills said “what happened?” 

‘I said “I think you have hit the elderly gentleman walking on the grass verge”.’

They then pulled forward and got out. Wills went to care for Mr Smith and Mr McAdam coned off the road after checking if Mr French was okay.

The trial continues. 

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