Fatal crash described in death by dangerous driving trial

A driver on trial following a fatal car crash told police he could not remember what had happened, a court heard.
Lisa Watling SUS-140321-161323001Lisa Watling SUS-140321-161323001
Lisa Watling SUS-140321-161323001

Minesh Parbat, 36, of Gregory Close, Maidenbower, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Parbat’s girlfriend Lisa Watling, from Langley Green, died of her injuries after the crash on the A2011 Crawley Avenue on March 9 last year.

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In his first interview with police, he said he had dinner and drinks with Miss Watling earlier that evening, but denied remembering anything about the accident.

Minesh ParbatMinesh Parbat
Minesh Parbat

In the interview, a transcript of which was read out to a jury at Lewes Crown Court today, he said he ate with her at TGI Friday’s in Crawley, and he had a pint of Stella and a cocktail with his meal.

He said they went back to her home, then to his to collect a phone he had accidentally left behind.

The crash happened around 1.40am, as they were returning to her home.

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“All I know of the crash is what you’ve told me, and what anyone else had told me,” he said. “I know what road it was on, purely because of what you’ve told me.”

His last memory was of going to his home, he said, and the next thing he could recall was waking up in a hospital bed, where the police were waiting to take a blood sample for alcohol testing.

Earlier today, forensic collision investigator PC Paul Banks told the jury how he had pieced together what happened as Parbat’s BMW Z3 left the road.

He said it had strayed onto the central reservation, with the offside wheels on the verge for about 28m - a little more than one second if it was travelling at 70mph.

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PC Banks said the driver had then tried to get back onto the road by steering left, but had presumably swerved too sharply because he then immediately steered to the right.

The car then went into a clockwise spin, hitting a concrete fence post at the roadside.

Richard Cherrill, defending, asked him about what can happen when a driver strays onto the central reservation.

“It wouldn’t necessarily be an act of dangerous driving to overcorrect, would it?” he asked.

PC Banks told him: “Not necessarily, sir.”

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Mr Cherrill said: “A lot of people would be likely to overcorrect if they got into such a difficulty.”

PC Banks said this would depend on a number of things, including how alert the driver was.

Philip Meredith, prosecuting, asked: “If you were 102mg in blood alcohol, ie over the limit, would that help somebody correct, or would it have contributed to the problem?”

PC Banks replied: “That would have made it worse, as alcohol makes it more difficult for a person to control a vehicle.”

Parbat denies the charge. The trial continues.

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NOTE: This newspaper would like to remind its readers that this is an ongoing trial in a court of law. You have a responsibility to adhere to the ‘innocent until proven guilty’ rule of British Law. This page is not monitored all day, every day and as such you have a responsibility as publishers to abide by contempt of court laws. You are liable for prosecution should you break the law. Thank you. Editor, Gary Shipton

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