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True Stories - Don't let this happen to you
Minibus driver guilty of causing death
A MINIBUS driver has been found guilty of causing the death of one of his passengers after attempting a reckless overtaking manouvere.
Kulwant Singh (30) was taking 15 people to work at factories on the outskirts of Peterborough when he tried to overtake a lorry on the A1073.
Half-way through the overtaking manouvere Singh spotted a car travelling towards him and attempted to accelerate past the lorry.
On attempting to get back onto his side of the road, he swerved in front of the lorry too hard and flipped the minibus which rolled over several times.
Migrant worker Mohammed Helal (42) of Cromwell Road, Peterborough, was killed and several other passengers suffered serious injuries in the crash which happened just outside Eye, at about 5.30am on November 23 last year.
A jury of eight men and four women at Peterborough Crown Court took just 90 minutes to find Singh guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Judge Neil McKittrick adjourned sentencing to allow for the preparation of reports.
Singh, who had denied the charge, was released on bail until November 9 but warned that all sentencing options remain open.
The court had earlier been told that Singh, of Crown Street, New England, Peterborough, often worked 21 hour days and may have been tired at the time of the crash.
Greg Perrins, prosecuting, said: "We say he (Singh) overtook the lorry on a blind bend in contravention of arrow markings on the road and a solid white line.
"In the darkness he was unable to see the car coming towards him. In those circumstances, the collision was almost inevitable."
Steven Gray, defending, said his client made a tragic error of judgement but was otherwise a competent and safe driver.
As no one can predict when the next accident is about to occur, would you want to find out why these accidents happen and reduce your risk of being involved in one?
Minibus Road Safety reference guide
- A problem built up over the years
- Minibus Road Safety (1 day ‘in class’ knowledge based training)
- Minibus Knowledge of Passenger Safety
- Minibus Road Safety (1 1/2 hour ‘on- road’ driving assessment)
- True Stories – Don’t let this happen to you
- Health & Safety and Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR)
