Motorist cleared of death by careless driving after pensioner struck by van
A van driver who hit and fatally injured a pedestrian was this afternoon cleared of causing death by careless driving.
It took the Wolverhampton Crown Court jury five hours 43 minutes to reach their majority verdict.
Mr Kewal Singh Dhesi, aged 72, was certified dead at the scene after being struck while trying to cross Myatt Avenue, Ettingshall on November 4 2014.
Tragedy struck as Daniel Straker turned into Myatt Avenue, Ettinghsall from Parkfield Road where he had been allowed to turn right by a motorist who flashed his headlights to indicate the 53-year-old's Mercedes Sprinter van could cross the path of the oncoming traffic.
Prosecutor Mr Walter Bealby told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "We say the pedestrian had been in the road for around four seconds before being struck and that as the defendant turned right he failed to look, or, if he did look, failed to see the pedestrian."
But Mr Straker of Graiseley Lane, Wednesfield maintained that the victim must have stepped off the pavement into his path and was adamant that nobody was crossing when he turned.
