A Weavering motorist slammed through an icy country lane at breakneck speed just seconds before a deadly crash that killed a couple and their dog, a courtroom heard.
Deadly Crash on Icy Road
Scott Gunn, 38, from Weavering, Maidstone, ploughed into Thomas and Susan Corkery as they walked a friend’s dog, Gracie, along Thurnham Lane, Bearsted, back in January 2024. The road has a 60mph limit, but data from Gunn’s BMW X5, bought just a week earlier, revealed he hit 87mph moments before the smash.
The Corkerys, aged 61 and 68, plus Gracie, all died at the scene after being hurled into a hedge by the out-of-control vehicle. The BMW then bounced off and rolled a short way before screeching to a halt.
Prosecutor: Driving ‘Obviously Dangerous’
Gunn is currently on trial at Maidstone Crown Court, facing two charges of causing death by dangerous driving. He admits careless driving but denies dangerous driving.
“His driving fell far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver. It was not just careless, it was obviously dangerous,”
said prosecutor Richard Hillman during the opening of the trial on Monday, November 24.
Hillman added that a warning sign about icy conditions was in place less than a mile from the crash site, and CCTV showed other cars driving cautiously at 20-22mph. Yet witnesses described Gunn’s BMW flying past at “terrific speed” and skidding out of control after the driver tried to brake.
Witnesses Describe Horror Moment
Dog walker David Scott, who was on foot nearby, said he waved frantically to warn Gunn about the ice. Instead of slowing, Gunn accelerated and lost control on a bend just seconds after passing Scott.
Another local said Gunn’s BMW was the fastest car they’d ever seen on the narrow lane, which is regularly used by walkers and horse riders.
At the scene, Gunn reportedly told a witness: “I was going too fast. I didn’t see the ice until the last second.”
Local Roads Familiar to Defendant
Hillman stressed that Gunn lived only eight minutes away, so had some knowledge of the local roads and conditions, making his excessive speed even more reckless.
“The speed limit is 60mph, but that’s a limit, not a target. Driving at 87mph on a narrow, icy country lane well-known for walkers and horse riders is beyond dangerous,” the prosecutor told the jury.
The Corkerys had been drinking tea at the Black Horse Inn shortly before the tragedy and warned family about the icy roads as they left on their walk.
Trial Ongoing
Gunn maintained he was unaware of the icy patches until too late and expressed shock over the crash in a police interview. The trial is continuing as the court hears more evidence.
