Van driver left motorcyclist with broken bones after crash

Mohammed Khokhar was spared immediate jail time for the crash almost two years ago, which a judge at Bradford Crown Court described as "a brief error of judgement but a dangerous one." Khokhar, 68, of Grange Avenue in Thornbury, was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a trial. In a statement read to the court on his behalf the victim said his injuries meant he was unable to travel to Wimbledon, where he was due to officiate.

Van was in centre of two lanes

Prosecutor Jemima Stephenson-Finn told the court how Khokhar, a refrigeration engineer of 40 years, was driving his Nissan van on the afternoon of June 22, 2024, when he entered a roundabout between the A65 and the A660 in Burley-in-Wharfedale.

A motorcyclist was riding on the A65 in the right-hand lane towards Otley. Khokhar's van was beside him on the left. Both vehicles entered the roundabout at the same time but Khokhar "appeared to be indecisive as to where he was travelling to [and] was positioning himself in the centre of the two lanes."

As the motorcyclist moved to exit the roundabout the van travelled around the roundabout and, despite being in the left-hand lane, collided with the motorcycle.

Motorcyclist in hospital for nearly a week

The rider, who was knocked onto the road, slid across the tarmac and bounced up onto the central reservation. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance where he was found to have a fractured left hip, a fractured shoulder blade, four fractured ribs, and a wound to his chin, which required surgery. He was in hospital for six days where he also had an operation on his leg.

'Brief error of judgement'

Khokhar was interviewed at the roadside and accepted he had been travelling in the left-hand lane but intending to turn right.

He claimed to have indicated and that the motorcyclist was at fault for the collision. The court heard that the van's offside wing mirror was "hanging loose" and held on by tape, which partially obscured the mirror. Mitigating, Jessica Heggie said Khokhar had shown a high degree of remorse for the injuries caused to the motorcycle rider resulting from what she described as "a brief error of judgement".

Van driver lost job but avoids jail

She said until that point Khokhar had been a refrigeration engineer for 40 years with a clean driving licence but had since lost his job.

Deputy Circuit Judge Timothy Clayson handed Khokhar 15 months' imprisonment suspended for two years, and disqualified him for two years.

He must take and pass an extended re-test before getting behind the wheel again.