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Motorist who left scene of 'catastrophic' fatal collision denies causing death by dangerous driving

A man who left the scene of a 'catastrophic' collision that saw a motorist and a horse die denied causing death by dangerous driving after an alleged high-speed race along rural roads.

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Eyewitnesses saw a green Volkswagen Passat, owned by defendant Helmuts Punovskis, and a white Fiat, being driven by Armands Ozolins, racing and tail-gating on a Tuesday morning in September 2012, the court heard.

It was when the vehicles, which were travelling from Donnington to Chadwell Farm near Newport, turned a bend at speed on Stump Lane, Weston Heath, in Shifnal that Mr Ozolins lost control of his car.

Wendy Garrett was riding her horse along the route at the same time and another motorist driving his van slowly behind her, the jury was told.

The van driver had just overtaken Mrs Garrett and her horse when the green car came around the bend at high-speed on the wrong side of the road.

While Punovskis avoided any collision, Mr Ozolins, 26, of Great Chatwell near Newport, smashed into Mrs Garrett and her horse after also speeding round the bend and sent them both flying into the air, prosecutor Mr Hugh O'Brien Quinn said.

The court heard how Mr Ozolins then crashed into the grass verge and a hedge by Damson Lane and suffered severe injuries before he died in hospital the next day.

The horse was also killed in the crash and Mrs Garrett lost a finger, was in need of a skin graft and suffered serious cuts and bruises. She has no memory of the incident.

Punovskis, a disqualified driver, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that he was not driving on the day of the smash.

Neighbours and builders working nearby rushed to the scene where Punovskis was seen holding his friend Ozolins and covered in his blood before getting into the Passat and leaving the area.

He was later discovered at Chadwell Farm by police where a woman with a one-month-old baby was seen sitting in the driver's seat.

*It is this woman, Liga Jaskova, that Punovskis said had been driving the car.

The court heard how Jaskova, who initially admitted that she was driving the car, had since come forward to police to say she was pressured into saying so.

She has since pleaded guilty to one count of perverting the course of justice.*

Mr O'Brien Quinn said they were "racing and dangerous driving for a prolonged period of time".

He added that while Punovskis did not hit anything, he was "responsible" due to racing and tailgating along rural country roads, which led to the fatal smash.

The crown also claims the defendant told police the wrong name on purpose to avoid being found out to be a disqualified driver- a claim the defendant also denies.

The court also heard how no one could identify Punovskis as the driver on that day.

The 31-year-old, of Turreff Avenue in Donnington, stands accused of one count of death by dangerous driving and another of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Punovskis denies both charges.

On the first day of the trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, Judge Jonathan Gosling told the jury, of seven women and five men, that they must decide whether Punovskis was behind the wheel at the time that this "catastrophic collision" took place.

Mrs Garrett had also been with her pet Springer Spaniel on that day, who was unhurt.

The court head that there were no problems detected with either vehicle.

Mr Michael Grey, stood for Punovskis.

The trial continues

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