A Southwick pensioner has pleaded not guilty to causing the death of a pedestrian by careless driving.
Owen Foss, 66, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday charged with causing the death of Ronnie Herriot by careless driving on the Old Shoreham Road last year.
Mr Herriot, 44, died after being hit by a silver Vauxhall Corsa at the Trafalgar Road and Locks Hill crossroads on Friday 11 March last year.
The driver of the Vauxhall Corsa was uninjured.
Victoria Grey, prosecuting, said: “As the not guilty plea indicates this charge is contested, the case will likely have a reliance placed on expert evidence.
“The Crown would say this case falls outside the magistrate’s sentencing powers and is not suitable for summary magistrates’ court] trial.”
Teresa Mulroney, defending, made no representations except to say that Foss would elect for a trial by jury at the crown court.
Foss, of Downsway, Southwick, was remanded on unconditional bail and the case was adjourned to Lewes Crown Court where he is due to appear on Thursday 22 June.
It is a busy junction where there are plenty of opportunities for a collision to occur. Realistically though, you should be driving to the conditions of the road, this means you should be driving slow enough to make an emergency stop.
The argument is likely to be made that the driver had not been taking adequate observations and they were travelling too fast with their advanced age being a further risk factor to their driving. I see a leaning towards the driver losing their license in light of these factors, personally.