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Gordon Dyche denies overtake 'reckless' in family death trial | Gordon Dyche denies overtake 'reckless' in family death trial |
(35 minutes later) | |
A garage attendant accused of causing a crash which killed four members of the same family has denied he took a reckless gamble. | A garage attendant accused of causing a crash which killed four members of the same family has denied he took a reckless gamble. |
Gordon Dyche, 24, from Powys, told Caernarfon Crown Court that he was driving safely in the seconds before the incident happened in April 2011. | Gordon Dyche, 24, from Powys, told Caernarfon Crown Court that he was driving safely in the seconds before the incident happened in April 2011. |
But witnesses say he overtook a car, clipped it and send it careering into Llyn Clywedog near Llanidloes in Powys. | But witnesses say he overtook a car, clipped it and send it careering into Llyn Clywedog near Llanidloes in Powys. |
Mr Dyche denies causing the deaths by dangerous driving or careless driving. | Mr Dyche denies causing the deaths by dangerous driving or careless driving. |
The court has heard how Mr Dyche, from Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth, was driving to work when he went to over take two cars. | The court has heard how Mr Dyche, from Llanbrynmair, near Machynlleth, was driving to work when he went to over take two cars. |
Denise Griffith, 56, from Pontypridd, has told the trial how she and her family were returning from a day out when she went to pull into a lay-by near Llyn Clywedog. | |
It was at that moment, she has said, that she felt the Peugeot 807 she was driving being shunted from behind. | It was at that moment, she has said, that she felt the Peugeot 807 she was driving being shunted from behind. |
She told the court that the next thing she knew, the car turned over and plunged into the nearby reservoir. | She told the court that the next thing she knew, the car turned over and plunged into the nearby reservoir. |
Her husband Emyr Griffith, 66, her mother Phyllis Hooper, 84, and her two foster sons Peter Briscome and Liam Govier, both 14, died in the incident. | Her husband Emyr Griffith, 66, her mother Phyllis Hooper, 84, and her two foster sons Peter Briscome and Liam Govier, both 14, died in the incident. |
Mrs Griffiths has recalled how she managed to release her seatbelt and swim to the shore along with the family's pet dog. | Mrs Griffiths has recalled how she managed to release her seatbelt and swim to the shore along with the family's pet dog. |
Mr Dyche, a married father, told the court he had left home for work in a Ford Mondeo shortly after 14:00 BST on the afternoon of the crash. | Mr Dyche, a married father, told the court he had left home for work in a Ford Mondeo shortly after 14:00 BST on the afternoon of the crash. |
He was driving eight miles to Llanidloes to start work at 14:30 BST. | He was driving eight miles to Llanidloes to start work at 14:30 BST. |
He told his lawyer Geraint Jones that he came up behind two cars - a VW Passat car and the people carrier, being driven by Mrs Griffith, ahead of it. | He told his lawyer Geraint Jones that he came up behind two cars - a VW Passat car and the people carrier, being driven by Mrs Griffith, ahead of it. |
They were travelling at about 40mph and he followed them for about a mile. | They were travelling at about 40mph and he followed them for about a mile. |
He said he began to overtake the VW but saw the Peugeot 807 people carrier began to turn right across his path towards a lay-by and he struck the vehicle. | He said he began to overtake the VW but saw the Peugeot 807 people carrier began to turn right across his path towards a lay-by and he struck the vehicle. |
Mr Dyche said: "It felt like the end of the world. I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do." | Mr Dyche said: "It felt like the end of the world. I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do." |
Prosecutor Simon Mills suggested the overtaking manoeuvre was "needless" but Mr Dyche disputed the suggestion he had been "cutting it a bit fine" to get to work. | Prosecutor Simon Mills suggested the overtaking manoeuvre was "needless" but Mr Dyche disputed the suggestion he had been "cutting it a bit fine" to get to work. |
He claimed there was good visibility that day. | He claimed there was good visibility that day. |
Claiming visibility was good, Mr Dyche added: "You could see far enough ahead. It was safe to overtake." | |
"If a car didn't pull across in front of me the overtaking manoeuvre would have been performed perfectly safe." | "If a car didn't pull across in front of me the overtaking manoeuvre would have been performed perfectly safe." |
Asked why he had said at the scene he was late for work and rushing, Mr Dyche claimed he had panicked. | Asked why he had said at the scene he was late for work and rushing, Mr Dyche claimed he had panicked. |
Mr Mills suggested he had tried to "weasel" his way out of blame, but Mr Dyche insisted: "I'm an honest man." | Mr Mills suggested he had tried to "weasel" his way out of blame, but Mr Dyche insisted: "I'm an honest man." |
Earlier on Wednesday, the jury heard how Mr Mills had told a paramedic at the scene of the crash: "I shouldn't have done it. I was late for work. It's my fault." | Earlier on Wednesday, the jury heard how Mr Mills had told a paramedic at the scene of the crash: "I shouldn't have done it. I was late for work. It's my fault." |
The jury also heard that he told a police officer: "It's my fault." | The jury also heard that he told a police officer: "It's my fault." |
Shortly after, while at a police station, Mr Dyche retracted what he had said. | |
"I did say that," he told officers. "I was very shocked, okay, and, I don't know. It's difficult." | "I did say that," he told officers. "I was very shocked, okay, and, I don't know. It's difficult." |
Mrs Griffith's driving had been described by another motorist as "exemplary." | Mrs Griffith's driving had been described by another motorist as "exemplary." |
She has said in court that her life has been ruined. | She has said in court that her life has been ruined. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |