Fatal train station crash driver found not guilty

A man has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving after the coach he was driving hit a 75-year-old man, who was fatally injured.

Michael Cockton, 49, from Flimby, earlier admitted a lesser charge of careless driving of a rail replacement bus outside Carlisle station, which led to the death of Roger Denwood on 30 November 2023.

After the prosecution closed its case at Carlisle Crown Court, the defence made a formal submission there was insufficient evidence on which a jury could convict, which the judge accepted.

The jury acquitted Cockton of causing death by dangerous driving, on the judge's direction. He is due to be sentenced for causing death by careless driving on 11 December.

Defence barrister Kim Whittlestone made the submission in an address to Judge Nicholas Barker with jurors absent.

In his ruling, the judge agreed, saying: "This can only have been a momentary lapse of concentration in very difficult circumstances when all his other driving was careful and cautious."

Cockton is due to be sentenced at the same court, following the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report, and was granted bail in the meantime.

On a day of some disruption to train services, Cockton was driving an empty rail replacement coach, preparing to collect passengers.

The court heard Cockton was following standard practice and doing as instructed when he travelled - against the flow of other traffic - through a "no entry" sign into the station forecourt area.

In what the court heard was a "challenging driving environment", Cockton had been attempting to reverse into a parking space.

CCTV footage showed the coach nudge a parked car, stop and then accelerate forward for several seconds into the station building.

Denwood, 75, who was standing close to the front entrance, suffered serious injuries as he was crushed and died in hospital on 15 December.

At the trial this week, forensic collision investigator Gregg Beatson presented the conclusion of a report he had prepared, which said the collision was caused by driver error.

Cockton incorrectly believed the coach was in reverse gear when he pressed the accelerator, he concluded.

The court heard Cockton would have had no time to react in the three to four seconds which elapsed following the error.

The jury of eight women and four men unanimously acquitted Cockton of causing death by dangerous driving.

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Cumbria on BBC Sounds.