More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A motorcyclist died on the M20 because a lorry driver didn't check his mirrors, it has been alleged.
Victim Alan Short, 56, was on his way home after a trip around Europe with a friend when tragedy struck near Maidstone Services.
But he died when the left-hand drive lorry collided with his bike and pushed him into metal barriers.
Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson claimed articulated lorry driver Mateusz Pietrow changed lanes without signalling and while breaking a 50mph speed limit.
The 31-year-old, of no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to causing Mr Short's death by driving carelessly.
Maidstone Crown Court heard allegations one car driver saw what was happening and sounded a horn as a warning - and another claimed Pietrow had done the same manoeuvre minutes earlier.
Mr Stevenson said Mr Short would have been in the lorry driver's vision for at about 20 seconds prior the crash.
But the Polish lorry driver - who was heading to Northampton to deliver his load - is alleged to have told police after the death crash he never saw the motorcycle at all.
The prosecutor said the tragic accident happened at 1.20pm on September 22 last year.
Mr Stevenson said: "There is no dispute that the defendant's lorry collided with the motorcycle and that collision caused Mr Short's death.
"The prosecution say that in the lead up to this collision, the defendant did not check his wing mirror and had he done so he would have seen Mr Short and would not have collided with him."
Mr Stevenson said Mr Short was returning from the continent to his home in Yorkshire on his black Yamaha 1000cc motorbike and was riding through a part of the motorway where Operation Brock was taking place.
He said that meant that metal barriers reduced the motorway to two lanes and were subject to a 50 mph restrictions.
Mr Stevenson added: "The motorcycle was in lane two and the lorry was in lane one. Traffic was slowing gently but the defendant accelerated and manoeuvred his vehicle from lane one to lane two and as he did he collided with the motorcycle.
"Mr Short was separated from his motorcycle and was pushed into the barrier and suffered catastrophic injuries and died instantly."
The prosecutor added an eye witness, motorist Nathan Smith was in front of the 40-ton lorry and he saw the lorry move out while the motorcyclist was alongside. He began to sound his horn to try to prevent a collision."
Mr Stevenson said another motorist saw the lorry swerve across the road without signalling and tests later revealed Pietrow accelerated from 44 to 55mph.
"I'm not a killer. This was a tragedy and two families are now broken..."
A police expert said in a report that but for the acceleration "the collision would not have occurred."
Pietrow also gave evidence during the trial and told the jury he was not a killer.
He said: "I'm not a killer. This was a tragedy and two families are now broken!"
Mr Stevenson told Pietrow: "You are not charged with murder but with causing a death by driving carelessly."
The 31-year-old father-of-one from Poland replied: "To me its the same thing! I am still in shock."
Mr Short, 56, may have been in the lorry's blind spot when the crash happened.
But accident specialist PC Duncan Swallow said that the blind spot could have been eliminated, "if the driver had leaned forward".
The lorry was breaking the 50mph limit when it moved into the outside lane crushing Mr Short and his bike against metal barriers.
Judge Adele Williams had asked the officer if he could bring a toy lorry and motorcycle to court to explain the accident, but then told the jury it wasn't needed.
The officer told the jury: "In the context of this incident, I would think it very unusual for a driver not to check his mirrors for 18-and-a-half seconds."
He added: "From watching CCTV footage there was nothing in the way the motorcycle was being driven which had contributed to the incident."
Speaking through an interpreter, Pietrow said he was delivering chairs to Northampton.
He said a vehicle in front was driving "unevenly".
"I then checked my mirrors and then pulled out to overtake. Every lorry has blind spots but I was relying on the mirrors to avoid a tragic situation like this.
"I remember I was moving into the middle of the lane and checked the mirrors twice and then I changed the lanes.
"I am not certain but I don't remember seeing the motorcycle."
His barrister Kieran Brand asked: "Did you consider it safe to overtake?"
He answered: "Not now, but at the time yes."
Pietrow said he didn't use his indicators to overtake because he thought there was enough distance between his lorry and traffic.
The trial continues.
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
