Two deny causing death of Shropshire cyclist in fatal crash

And a good samaritan who came to the aid of John Edmund Searle was also hit by another car and suffered a broken leg, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Yesterday two people appeared in court to stand trial accused of causing death by careless driving after Mr Searle's death in south Shropshire two years ago.

Pamela Willocks and Russel Davies deny causing the death of the 59-year-old classroom assistant, who was killed on the B4368 Corvedale Road near Craven Arms in 2012.

The jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Willocks, 50, of Watling Street South, Church Stretton, had clipped Mr Searle with her wing mirror, and then Davies, 54, of Burway Road, Church Stretton, had run over him.

Prosecutor Simon Davis said another man, Gary Pitkin, had stopped to help Mr Searle but had then been run over himself.

He said: "Just about 8.20am on October 17, 2012, John Searle was riding his pushbike eastward out of Craven Arms. As he was riding along, Pamela Willocks came up behind him, totally oblivious to his presence. As she came up, the wing mirror struck either his handlebars or Mr Searle, and that caused him to fall where he sustained an injury to his head.

"Travelling some distance behind Mrs Willocks was Russel Davies, driving a VW transporter van with a work colleague. He also didn't see Mr Searle and drove over him, causing serious injury to his left leg, pelvis and abdomen.

"Another woman was driving behind and also failed to see him, driving over his right leg, causing injury, but nothing as grave as the other injuries.

"Shortly after this Gary Pitkin was driving in the opposite direction with three children in the car. He got out to see what he could do. As he was on the phone to the emergency services another car hit him, breaking his leg."

Mr Searle, of Newington Way, Craven Arms, worked part-time at Onny Primary School in nearby Onibury.

The trial continues.