Driver faces retrial over death in A477 Nash Fingerpost crash
Jason Harvey, 43, of Law Street in Pembroke Dock, was charged with causing the death of Ashley Rogers by careless driving on May 13, 2023. Harvey was towing a trailer with his van that morning, and approached the junction from the A4075 at around 8am that morning. As he crossed the carriageway to get onto the A477, Mr Rogers - who was riding his Ducati motorcycle in the direction of Pembroke Dock - crashed into his vehicle.
The 29-year-old, from Kilgetty, died at the scene[1].
Harvey faced a trial which began on May 29[3], however the jury was unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for four hours and 46 minutes at Swansea Crown Court[4]. Judge Catherine Richards discharged the jurors and thanked them for their public service. The case returned to Swansea Crown Court, and prosecutor Dyfed Thomas confirmed that a retrial would be sought.
A new trial date of April 27, 2026, was confirmed, and Harvey will remain on bail until that date. Judge Richards commented that it was "disappointing for everybody concerned" that this was the earliest available date for the retrial to take place. During the trial, Mr Thomas claimed that Mr Harvey did not take sufficient time to look before pulling out of the junction.
"There simply wasn't enough time to do what he's telling you, to do what he said - to look right, left and right again," he told the jury. "He didn't look sufficiently. The duty is on the person to make sure the road is clear."
Charles Langley KC, representing the defendant, told the jury that his client maintained that Mr Rogers' Ducati bike had "come out of nowhere".
He told the trial his client was of clean character and added that he had a trailer licence and was known for being careful.
Following Mr Roger's death, his family said in a tribute: "He was loved and will be dearly missed by his fiance, son, family and friends."
References
- ^ The 29-year-old, from Kilgetty, died at the scene (www.westerntelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Harvey faced a trial which began on May 29 (www.westerntelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ the jury was unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for four hours and 46 minutes at Swansea Crown Court (www.westerntelegraph.co.uk)