Flowers at the scene of a crash on the A228 in Snodland in which biker Dr Mark Williams was killed

by Julia Roberts

A motorcyclist was killed when a Dutch lorry driver made an illegal turn across a dual carriageway, a court heard.

Dr Mark Williams, 48, struck the side of the articulated truck as it pulled out of a side road and onto the A228 Snodland bypass on August 26 last year.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court was told lorry driver Ewout Groenenberg either "failed to see or ignored" a mandatory blue 'turn left' sign when he attempted to make the prohibited right turn across the southbound carriageway - through a gap in the central reservation and join the northbound carriageway.

They also heard the layout of the side road was "clearly designed" to draw vehicles towards the left and onto the southbound carriageway of the bypass.

Groenenberg, 40, from Haringvliet, in Holland, has admitted causing death by careless driving, but denies causing death by dangerous driving.

He had dropped off a consignment of mushrooms at a Tesco depot, but was having difficulty finding a second depot when he turned into the Ham Hill water treatment works.

Groenenberg was exiting the side road to rejoin the A228 when it is alleged he pulled "directly across" Dr Williams's path at about 11.45am in his DAF truck.

The spot where Dr Mark Williams was killed last August

Dr Williams, of Oak Road, Strood, was riding his Moto Guzzi 750cc Italian motorcycle with his partner Jo Smith riding pillion.

The couple were heading to the New Forest to enjoy the annual Moto Guzzi Club meeting over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, said Groenenberg would have had an unobstructive view of 300m along the road and, although the motorbike's speed could not be scientifically established, even at maximum speed it would not have been out of the lorry driver's sight as he started to pull out of the junction.

Miss Smith later estimated their speed as "sensible and comfortable" in what were described as drizzly weather conditions.

The prosecutor said: "Two factors remain certain: The defendant failed to see an on-coming motorcycle with its headlamp illuminated, driving along a clear stretch of carriageway with 300m visibility.

"Secondly, he failed to follow the road layout and traffic sign ordering him to turn left either because he failed to see it or chose to ignore it. His failures caused the death of Dr Williams."

Trucker Ewout Groenenberg is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court

Despite the efforts of passing motorists and the emergency services, Dr Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miss Smith, who herself was taken to hospital for treatment, told the jury that as a pillion passenger she had no view of the road ahead.

She also explained that she has no memory of the collision.

Immediately after the accident, Groenenberg told police the road was clear and he started to pull out.

But he added: "When it was too late I saw the sign. They were going very fast. I just saw something out of the corner of my eye. I checked and the road was clear. They were going very fast."

The jury was also told experts for the defence believe there should have been a 'no entry' sign in the gap.

The trial continues.