My view was not restricted, claims Wolverhampton death case driver
A bundle of items hanging from the mirror of a car which hit and killed a university worker were not restricting the view, the driver told a court.
Matthew Campbell said he would have removed the items – which included eight air fresheners, a pair of glasses, a key ring and a soft toy – if he felt they were blocking his view of the road.
The 27-year-old is on trial accused of careless or inconsiderate driving over a crash which killed Dr Nicholas Musgrove in December 2012.
A police collision expert yesterday told Wolverhampton Crown Court there were a number of items dangling from the rear view mirror of Campbell's car. PC Mark Dixon said the items could have obscured Campbell's vision. Campbell, of Newhampton Road West in Wolverhampton, said he had the items on his mirror for a long time. But he insisted they did not restrict his view. He said: "The rhino head was a gift from my cousin which had been on my keys but had fallen off so I just put it on my mirror.
"The glasses weren't the ones I normally wear, they were 3D ones from when I went to the cinema.
"I had my car cleaned by my friend every week and he would put an air freshener in there each time. They weren't restricting my view. If they were I would have removed them." Giving evidence, Campbell said immediately before the accident he saw a blue flash, which was the jacket of Dr Musgrove, about a foot from the front of his car.
He said he then heard a knocking sound which caused him to slam on his brakes. Campbell, a forklift truck driver, told the court that he had not seen Dr Musgrove step off the pavement as he was driving up Ring Road St Peter's at 6.15am.
"I briefly remember seeing these people crossing to the right and the next thing I remember seeing less than a car's length from me is just a blue flash," Campbell told the court.
"Once I saw the blue I manoeuvred and heard a knock and stamped on my brakes.
"I was in shock for about 30 seconds then I grabbed my phone, which had ended up under my chair, and called an ambulance."
Dr Musgrove, aged 64, was on his way to work at the University of Wolverhampton. He died shortly after at New Cross Hospital.
Campbell denies careless or inconsiderate driving. The trial continues.
