Newcastle Audi driver seriously injured motorcycle rider after smashing into him on Byker roundabout
An Audi driver seriously injured a motorcycle rider after smashing into him on a roundabout. Andrew Armstrong was driving on the outside of a bus on the Byker[1] bypass roundabout when he hit the biker and sent him flying across the busy road on August 30. The rush-hour crash resulted in the rider sustaining a badly broken leg.
Armstrong, 26, who is employed in the insurance industry, was on his way to work when the crash happened and remained at the scene until police arrived. He was later arrested and charged with causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving. Armstrong, of Clysdale Mount, Byker, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court[2] where he pleaded guilty to the charge.
He was banned from driving for a year and fined over GBP600. The court heard that Armstrong was driving a white Audi A5 when he approached the roundabout at the top of Shields Road. He was in an outside lane near to a bus at the time, with the bus capturing the crash on its onboard camera.
Brian Payne, prosecuting, said: “The bus had started to move onto the roundabout when the defendant went up outside of the bus. He didn’t check the give way lane and went straight out and struck with the front left corner a motorbike, knocking the rider off the bike. He sustained a very badly broken leg, among other things.”
Janice Hall, defending, said Armstrong had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was of “previous impeccable character”. She said: “He stopped immediately and contacted the emergency services and remained at the scene. He was on his way to work and it was particularly busy at that time.
“He was not speeding or running late. He was driving at 24mph in a 30mph zone.” Ms Hall said Armstrong “very much regrets” the collision and was a hard working man who works in the insurance industry.
The court was told that the defendant was “very remorseful”.
Sentencing Armstrong, District Judge Paul Currer fined him GBP650 and ordered him to pay a GBP260 surcharge and GBP85 costs.
He was also banned from driving for 12 months.
References
- ^ Byker (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Newcastle Magistrates’ Court (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)