Motorcyclists left dying, jury told

Two Staffordshire motorcyclists were killed in front of their friends when a lorry pulled out in front of a group of bikes, jurors heard.

One bike hit the lorry, the other swerved out of the way but hit a lamp post. Both riders died at the scene.

Mr Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, alleged the deaths of Colin Millard and Alan Johnson were caused by the dangerous driving of Russell Wallace.

Lorry driver Wallace pulled out from the old Rugeley power station on to the main road without stopping and failed to see the pals, claimed Mr Whitehead.

Wallace, aged 61, of Post Office Lane, Rugeley denies two charges of causing death by dangerous driving. The smash happened on the main Rugeley to Armitage Road on April 20 last year.

Mr Whitehead told the jury at Stafford Crown Court the prosecution's case was that Wallace's driving fell far below that of a competent and prudent driver.

He said: "The defendant, whilst driving a tipper lorry, pulled out from a side junction on to a main A road and into the path of two motorcyclists. The defendant had slowed before he entered the carriageway but did not stop.

"Despite having at least 250 to 400 yards of visibility along the road to his right, he failed to see Mr Millard and Mr Johnson riding separate motorcycles.

"Each rider braked heavily, trying to avoid the defendant's large lorry now blocking their carriageway. Mr Millard's bike collided with the lorry."

Mr Millard, who was 49 and from March Banks, Rugeley, hit the lorry. Mr Johnson, 47, of Frank Gee Close, Rugeley was the second rider and swerved around the back of the lorry, but collided with a kerb, went onto a grass verge and hit a lamp post.

The men were in a convoy of eight bikes going to Skegness for a weekend.

Wallace claimed the riders were speeding and to blame for the crash.

"We don't accept that and, based on expert evidence, we will show the defendant is at fault," said Mr Whitehead.

One of the motorcyclists, Mr Matthew Lawrence, told the jury he was third in line. He said: "I saw the lorry and just assumed it would just stop." He continued: "Suddenly, as I looked round, the lorry was out on us, it just pulled out into the road."

The witness said Mr Millard braked and his tyres lit up with smoke before hitting the lorry. "He hit it between the first and second wheels. He didn't have anywhere else to go. Colin went through the lorry and ended up underneath it."

The trial is continuing.