Oldbury death crash driver failed to stop

A motorcyclist died after a car veered to the wrong side of the road and smashed into his bike, a court heard.

David Rudge, aged 57, was travelling along Portway Road, Oldbury, when Clive Robinson, who was on the wrong side of the road in his Jaguar, hit him and drove off. The court heard there was no way to know whether Robinson was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Hugh O'Brien Quinn, prosecuting, said they could not say whether or not Robinson was speeding at the time of the crash, 5.35am on April 9.

He said: "The defendant was driving on the wrong side of the road and collided with Mr Rudge. The prosecution will never be in a position to say what may have caused the collision.

"We do know that a witness saw him driving on the wrong side of the road shortly after the collision."

Mr Rudge, a grandfather-of-13 of Hawfield Road, Oldbury, died a week after the crash.

Family members said at the time that Mr Rudge had seemed fine, but became ill and collapsed the following morning.

Paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital, but he later died from a massive heart attack.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, Robinson pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

The 47-year-old, of Stourbridge Road, Brierley Hill, was released on bail until October 17, when he will be sentenced.

Sarah-Jayne Buckingham, defending, said Robinson had a good character, and a clean driving record.

Judge Phillip Parker QC told Robinson the fact he had been released on bail was no indication of what sentence may be passed at the next hearing.

He ordered an interim disqualification and told him upon sentence he would be disqualified for a period to be decided by the next judge.

By Charlotte Cross