Driver caused death of motorcyclist after losing control when driving too fast

Sergejs Jermolajevs, 31, of Bunting Road, admitted causing the death of Rodney John Woodhouse by driving without due care and attention when he appeared at Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Nick Todd said that at 6.40am on Friday November 16 2018, Jermolajevs was driving his Mercedes 1952 registered motor car in 'very poor conditions' on the A1121 at Boardsides, Wyberton.

He said that it had been 'very foggy, dark and the roads were damp' but Jermolajevs, on his own admission, had been driving at 60mph when he drifted across the single carriageway almost to the grass bank on the opposite side of the road, when he collided with Mr Woodhouse, who was driving his 650cc motorcycle in the opposite direction.

Mr Todd said other drivers were driving at around 40mph because of the conditions.

He said there was no evidence Jermolajevs had been carrying out an overtaking manoeuvre and that in his view his driving was 'not far short of dangerous driving'.

Mr Todd said Jermolajevs accepted he was the cause of the collision but raised the likelihood his vehicle had a steering or brake defect, but Mr Todd said the car was examined by Mercedes engineers who found no faults apart from a slight pull to one side.

Mitigating, Beris Brickles said Jermolajevs had been 'driving too fast for the conditions', that he had tried to take evasive action but had lost control.

District Judge Peter Veits said there was 'nothing I can do to change what sadly happened'.

He told Jermolajevs that Mr Woodhouse had 'lost his life because of your driving.

“You were driving far too fast – 60mph on a dark, foggy, damp morning.

“You chose to drive that day – you chose to drive too fast for the conditions - you were clearly on the wrong side of the road.”

He told Jermolajevs his sentencing powers were not sufficient and sent him for sentence at Lincoln Crown Court on a date to be notified.

He also disqualified him from driving until his appearance in the crown court.