Van driver is cleared

PETER SCOTT

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A VAN driver charged with causing the death of a 12 -year old schoolgirl on a notorious zebra crossing has been cleared by a jury after a week-long trial.

Annalise Holt tragically died from crush injuries after being dragged under Peter Scott’s works Mercedes Vito van in the accident a week before Christmas 18 months ago. Her friend was seriously injured.

Mr Scott (58), who has 40 years driving experience behind him without ever being involved in a crash, told police who interviewed him: “I just didn’t see them.”

The jury at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court had been told that the other girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been hit by the van on the crossing in Milnrow Road, Shaw, as the two pals ran across the road at around 4.30pm on December 17, 2013.

Annalise was knocked to the ground, and unknown to Mr Scott, was dragged under the van for 17 metres as he moved to a spot where he could safely stop.

Before sending the jury out to consider its verdict, Judge Leslie Hull reminded them that Mr Scott had led a blameless life, and served his country in the Army in trouble spots including Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

He said that apart from a speeding ticket three years ago, he also had a clean driving record.

The jury returned a 10-2 majority not guilty verdict after deliberating for a day and a half.

A member of Annalise’s family had to be restrained after he jumped from his seat in court when the verdict was announced, and ran towards Mr Scott as he was about to leave the dock.

The jury had been told during the trial that as Mr Scott approached the crossing on the night, he would have had a clear and unobstructed view of the girls on the crossing for a critical 2.5 seconds, which should have given him time to see the girls and react.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, put it to him that he had not been keeping a proper look out, a suggestion utterly rejected by Mr Scott.

He said he had of seen one of the girls for a split second before impact, and had thought about the accident every day since, trying to work out how it happened.

The court had been told that the van, owned by Dawsons Precision Engineering, had been travelling at only 15mph approaching the crossing, which he was aware was dangerous because of previous accidents, including fatalities, there.

Mr Scott, who had pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving, said he simply could not explain what occurred.

Judge Hull told the the jury at the end of the trial: “I thank you for your diligence and commitment in a case that by any standards has not been an easy one.”