Vehicle inspector explains crash theory
A car that hit and seriously injured a biker could have suffered a mechanical fault, an expert said.
Brian Corrigan was speaking at the trial of Melissa Winwood, who denies causing injury by driving dangerously.
However, his opinion was disputed by an expert who examined the car for the police.
Winwood, 27, and of Stanwick, Sutton Hill, is accused of performing a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on the A442 near High Rock in August last year that caused her to hit Wayne Jones.
At the time Mr Jones was doing his compulsory motorcycle test.
Mr Corrigan, who examined the vehicle for Winwood's defence, explained that her car's tie rod could have been damaged before the crash, and that if it gave way it would have led to a loss of control that might have caused her to swerve.
The trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Winwood previously told police that her Saab 9-3 had been acting "dodgy".
Mr Corrigan also said that after examining pictures of Mr Jones' motorbike he did not believe that the crash was more than a "glancing blow".
He said that if the tie bar had broken on the driver's side the car would have swerved to the right and Winwood would have been unable to fight it.
But Ian Edwards, who examined the vehicle for West Mercia Police, said that the car and bike hit each other with enough force that the car’s front wheel was wrenched out of shape.
Under questioning by Winwood’s representative Paul Smith, Mr Edwards said the crash was “anything but a glancing blow” and could have broken the tie rod.
He said his theory was that molten plastic found on the Saab’s front tyre was a result of the impact, but conceded to Mr Smith's suggestion that the plastic "could have come from anywhere".
Mr Corrigan and Mr Edwards were both cross-examined by Mr Smith and prosecution solicitor Peter Grice.
Mr Grice said that on the section of road where the accident happened, there were double white lines in the middle of the highway prohibiting overtaking.
Yesterday the jury was shown pictures of the Saab immediately after the crash, Mr Jones' motorbike, and a broken tie rod.
Mr Jones suffered a broken thigh bone, dislocated shoulder and a complicated ankle break in the crash.
He had to be airlifted to hospital by the Midlands Air Ambulance.
The trial continues.
