Jurors told accused in fatal crash that killed Gosport mum was travelling at 63mph

Sabrina Bellman, 28, of Gosport, was holidaying in Cornwall with her husband, mother-in-law and young daughter when she was killed while making her way home from a Christmas pantomime.

Daniel Smith of St Teath, is on trial at Truro Crown Court over the Boxing Day, 2015, crash.

The 31-year-old has admitted causing death by careless driving but denies causing both death and injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard Mr Smith was driving on the wrong side of a country road at ‘well over’ the 50mph speed limit when the crash happened place on a bend at Washaway near Bodmin.

Forensic collision investigator PC Andy Fletcher told jurors he estimated, from his examination of the scene, the crash caused Sabrina’s Seat to be pushed backwards 11 metres from the point of impact following the head-on collision with Smith’s BMW Mini Cooper.

PC Fletcher said the Seat travelled five and a half metres on its side.

‘The speed limit for the stretch of road is 50mph and the Seat was probably travelling at around 30mph,’ he told the court yesterday.

‘The Mini was travelling in the region of 57mph but could have been higher.

‘The figure I calculated it to be travelling at is as much as 63mph.’

He added: ‘There is no evidence of braking from either vehicle, meaning there was probably no time to react.

‘The evidence is consistent with Mr Smith misjudging the speed needed to take the corner.’

Ms Bellman’s daughter Elsie, aged three, was injured and her husband Dominic Bellman and mother-in-law Dawn Bellman, who was driving, were both seriously hurt.

Smith’s defence team said that there were no ‘sharp bend’ signs or chevrons.

(Proceeding)