Tourist's U-turn caused Shropshire crash
An Australian tourist caused a serious crash on the A5 after performing a U-turn in the road, magistrates heard.
Leslie David Daws, 70, was visiting the UK with his wife when the crash happened on May 4 – a bank holiday.
Wrexham Magistrates Court heard that Daws was driving a hire car on the A5 close to the Halton roundabout, near Chirk, at about 1pm when he realised he was lost and made the manoeuvre.
But as he did motorcyclist Robert Wood hit the side of the car, suffering serious injuries and was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Daws admitted driving without due care and attention when he appeared at the court. He was fined £175 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, costs of £85 and a £150 criminal courts charge. Magistrates also imposed five points on his UK driving record.
Mr Alun Williams, for Daws, said the roads in Australia were usually quieter so a U-turn in a similar situation there would "not have been as unusual in the circumstances". He said Daws believed the road was clear when he made the manoeuvre.
