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Driver Cleared in Fatal Country Lane Collision
6 Dec
Summary
- An accountancy chief was acquitted of causing death by careless driving.
- The cyclist died after being struck by the defendant's car.
- The jury unanimously found the driver not guilty after deliberation.
An accountancy chief, Thomas Gibbs, has been acquitted of causing death by careless driving, a charge stemming from a collision that resulted in the death of cyclist Ben Jacobs. The incident occurred on a narrow country lane in Suffolk, where Gibbs was reportedly listening to music on earphones.
Mr. Jacobs, a father of three, sustained a significant brain injury and tragically died the day after the collision. Gibbs, who denied the charge, was found not guilty by a jury after their deliberations, which concluded swiftly. The verdict brought tears to the eyes of Mr. Jacobs's family members present in court.
The court heard conflicting accounts regarding Gibbs's speed and awareness, with the defense suggesting the cyclists' positioning contributed to the accident. Ultimately, the jury delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict, concluding a case described by the judge as a "tragedy of immense proportions."
