Young driver cleared over motorcyclist’s death

A young Mini driver has been cleared of killing a motorcyclist when she pulled out of her farmhouse home at just 6mph.

Rhiannon Bartlett, 24, was driving onto the lane but did not spot on-coming rider Ian Edwards.

Mr Edwards, 50, was estimated to be riding at between 20 and 25miles per hour in the 60mph zone when tragedy struck.

She and her mother, both first aiders, had tried in vain to save the biker’s life.

Bartlett had denied causing death by careless driving – saying she had carefully looked both left and right before pulling into the road.

She said it happened “so quick, heard a horrific bang and remembers Mr Edwards being thrown past” her car window.

She said: “It has ruined my life. I’m profoundly sorry.”

Prosecutor Heath Edwards said the motorcyclist tried to swerve to avoid Bartlett’s Mini One but struck it straight on and was thrown from the bike.

Mr Edwards said: “Miss Bartlett pulled her car from the driveway of the farm where she was living onto the lane as she did so she pulled her vehicle into the path of Ian Edwards.

“He had no opportunity to avoid her, there was a collision, he was thrown from his motorcycle and he subsequently died.”

The court heard Bartlett stayed on the scene while her mother attempted CPR on Mr Edwards.

Mr Edwards said Bartlett was turning left in her BMW Mini onto Ty Canol Lane in the village of Machen, Gwent, when she pulled into the motorcyclist’s path.

He said: “It was the responsibly of Miss Bartlett that as she was pulling onto the lane to ensure there were no other vehicles already on that main road travelling in the opposite direction to her.

“As Miss Bartlett drove onto the lane she should have seen Mr Edwards on his motorcycle. She could see at least 50 metres to her left down the lane.

“Whilst the speed limit for the lane is 60 miles per hour Mr Edwards was not travelling at anything close to that.

“For whatever reason on this particular morning, tragically she didn’t see Mr Edwards on his motorcycle. Instead she drove her car out into the lane, thus becoming an obstacle in the path of the motorcycle.

“He tried to swerve his motorcycle but was unable to successfully avoid a collision with Miss Bartlett’s Mini.

“He struck the front of the vehicle and was thrown from the motorcycle and unconscious on the floor.

“She very quickly called 999 and explained he was flying off of the motorcycle and was lying on the floor.”

Bartlett was accused of causing death by careless driving on September 15, 2021 as she left her house at 9.20am.

Cardiff Crown Court heard when paramedics arrived Bartlett’s mum was performing CPR on Mr Edwards but he was pronounced dead shortly after.

It took a jury just over nine hours to clear Bartlett on Tuesday June 20 for being responsible for the death of motorcyclist Ian Edwards.

Referring to Mr Edwards’ family he added: “Can I praise the dignity of the family in this case and the way they’ve conducted themselves.

“It couldn’t have been easy for them and I give my sympathies to them.”