A LORRY driver who collided with a motorcyclist and left him to die when he drove onto the wrong side of the road has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Lucian-Sorin Todor overtook a cyclist, which he said only saw “at the last moment”, as he drove along the A32 at Warnford on June 29, 2019, crossing double white lines on a restricted bend.

The 52-year-old forced two cars, an Audi and a Vauxhall Zafira, to drive onto a grass verge to avoid a collision, but 22-year-old Jack Burgess, who was riding a Yamaha motorcycle, braked and fell off his motorbike. The wheels of Todor’s trailer scrubbed against Mr Burgess’ head, causing fatal injuries. He died the following day in hospital.

Todor has been on trial at Winchester Crown Court and today (Friday) was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

The verdict was given by a majority of 10 to 2 after the jury were granted a majority direction by the Recorder of Winchester, Judge Angela Morris, earlier today.

As the verdict was read out there were cries from the public gallery from Mr Burgess’ family, who hugged one another. Todor’s family walked out as the judge spoke to the court.

Jack Burgess

Jack Burgess

Todor, who was an agency driver working for Fowler Welch at the time of the crash, will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

The judge said: “This is a very serious matter and there is only one inevitable sentence at the end of this.”

A psychiatric report and a pre-sentence report will be carried out before Todor is sentenced.

Speaking to Todor, the judge added: "You must understand, Mr Todor, that there is only one sentence here, it is likely to be a substantial sentence - I have not made up my mind up as to the extent of that at this stage, that is for another day after these reports are prepared.

"As part of that it is obviously important that you provide to your legal team any information that you wish me to consider on your behalf when I consider the issue of sentence." 

During the trial it was heard that Todor, of Andrew Crescent, Waterlooville, was on the phone when the crash happened and continued the call for the two short minutes that he stopped at the scene before leaving.

Giving evidence, eyewitness Liam Creighton said: “I said to him (Todor) ‘you’ve had an accident, you’ve got to pull over’. The bloke just walked up the side of the lorry, didn’t go no more than halfway up the trailer and just said ‘no, no’.”

In his defence Todor told the court he overtook the cyclist to avoid hitting him as he popped out from nowhere as he was travelling down a road which had dark and light patches due to overhanging trees.

In a statement to police following his arrest, Todor said: “I do not believe I caused the accident. I am extremely sorry that someone has died but I do not believe it was caused by me.

“If I thought I was involved in an accident I would not have left.”