‘Naomi panicked when car swerved’

3:27pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

A young woman told a jury her friend panicked at the wheel after a car twice swerved at them.

Rachael Parr said she and Naomi Gough took desperate action to try to stay on the road seconds before a fatal crash.

Miss Gough, 19, of Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, died instantly when her Renault Clio crashed into a safety barrier on a flyover.

Craig Bergin, 20, of Shay Lane, Halifax, denies causing Miss Gough's death by dangerous driving on January 10 last year.

Miss Parr told the jury at Bradford Crown Court the crash happened after Bergin twice swerved at them in his customised yellow Vauxhall Tigra.

She said she and Miss Gough, who were best friends, hoped to lose Bergin in traffic on the way to Brighouse. They had arranged to meet up with him at a pizza restaurant but Miss Parr said the girls preferred a quiet night in.

Miss Parr said Bergin drove normally through Halifax but then revved up his car and quickly pulled ahead.

He slowed to wait for the girls and the vehicles travelled side by side on the Burdock Way flyover at no more than 40mph.

Bergin then swerved at them twice. The second time caused Naomi to move to the right and Miss Parr feared the Clio would plunge through a barrier over the flyover.

Both girls were shocked and Naomi was panicking, Miss Parr said. She told how she corrected the steering but the car skidded, crossed the carriageway and hit a barrier at a sliproad.

Miss Parr said she suffered six broken ribs and a broken collar bone. She was in hospital for days and on painkillers for weeks.

Miss Parr told the court Naomi was a careful driver who never wanted to race anybody.

Prosecutor Ben Crosland claims Bergin's "tomfoolery" and showing off led to the late-night crash.

The jury heard that Bergin and Miss Gough were exchanging text messages in the days before her death. "They were two young people who fancied each other," Mr Crosland said.

He alleges Bergin was showing off to Miss Gough because he was interested in her.

The trial continues.

Editor's choice