In a tragic incident that unfolded on August 4, 2021, a lorry driver stands accused of causing the death of Dr. Marta Krawiec, a 41-year-old NHS paediatrician. The accident occurred as the lorry, a Mercedes HGV driven by 69-year-old Kevin Allen, struck Dr. Krawiec while she was cycling to her workplace at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
The Old Bailey heard that Dr. Krawiec, a renowned food allergy consultant born in Poland, was wearing a bright pink outfit and a helmet when the incident transpired. She was struck by the lorry at the junction of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road near Holborn. Tragically, she was dragged along the road by the front wheel of the lorry and died as a result of the collision.
The court was informed that Kevin Allen had been driving the HGV in the middle lane for vehicles intending to travel straight ahead. However, he abruptly turned left without indicating until after he had already initiated the turn. Mr Allen has admitted to causing death by careless driving but denies the more severe charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Prosecutor Paul Casey detailed the events leading to the tragic accident, stating, “As the lights turned to green, Mr Allen’s HGV began to move off. At the same time, Marta Krawiec also began to move off, by this point slightly ahead of the HGV. Approximately, two seconds after Mr. Allen began to move off, his HGV began to show a left signal.”
The prosecution has argued that Mr Allen’s failure to indicate his intention to turn left on time had catastrophic consequences, leading to the collision that resulted in Dr Krawiec’s death.
Despite the accident, Mr Allen remained at the scene and was found not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time. The court has been informed that being in the incorrect lane, in itself, may not necessarily amount to dangerous or careless driving. However, the prosecution asserts that Mr Allen’s failure to indicate his intention to turn left, especially given his lane positioning, contributed to the fatal accident.
The trial is ongoing and is expected to conclude in the coming week.
