Death crash jury considers verdicts

A jury today resumed its deliberations in the trial of two police officers accused of causing death by dangerous driving.

Pc Sean Schofield, 38, was driving a high-performance marked police Volvo T5 on a training exercise when he crossed on to the wrong side of the road and ploughed head-on into an oncoming vehicle, Liverpool Crown Court has heard.

Retired academic Peter Williams, 67, was behind the wheel of his VW Touran, his wife Jean, 65, was in the passenger seat.

They had left their home in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, for a "treat" and were on their way to the Yorkshire Dales for a weekend break when the crash happened on the narrow, winding B6254 near Over Kellet, Carnforth.

The impact of the collision shunted the VW backwards and spun it round 180 degrees, the jury has been told.

Mr Williams, from Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, died from his injuries in hospital the day after the crash, on November 2, 2006.

His wife, Pc Schofield, and his passenger, Pc Jason Colclough, both serving with Lancashire Police, were injured but survived the collision.

The five women and seven men of the jury have also been told that Pc Schofield's car was travelling at 94mph just 130 metres before impact - the last speed recording before the crash.

Pc Schofield, an advanced police driver, and his instructor for the training exercise, Pc Andrew Massingham, 41, both deny a single charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Pc Massingham, also qualified as an advanced police driver, was in a police Volvo T5 ahead of Pc Schofield's car.

It is alleged he was dictating the speed his trainee was driving - and therefore was equally responsible for the crash.