Accused denies trying to race car

9:02pm Thursday 15th May 2008

A young driver accused of causing the crash which claimed the life of a teenage motorist has denied he was trying to race her car.

Naomi Gough, 19, of Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, died when her Renault Clio hit a safety barrier on Burdock Way, Halifax, in January 2007.

The prosecution has alleged that 20-year-old Craig Bergin had been showing off in his Vauxhall Tigra as the two cars headed towards Brighouse.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court has heard that Miss Gough's friend Rachael Parr grabbed the steering wheel of the Clio as she feared the car would plunge over the flyover.

Giving evidence today Bergin said there was no truth in the claims that he had been "of a mind to race" or had been showing off. Bergin, of Shay Lane, Halifax, said his car was travelling at between 35 and 40mph on Burdock Way with Miss Gough's Clio doing maybe 45mph.

"Naomi's car came up on the right side of mine and then all of a sudden it just drifted back and in my rear view mirror I saw her car go across the road," he said. Bergin said he and the friend he was with heard a bump and thought there had been a crash.

Bergin, who has denied causing Miss Gough's death by dangerous driving, drove back to the scene and assisted Miss Parr, who kept repeating: "I thought she was going over the edge."

The court heard that Bergin, a steel erector, had only one speeding conviction for doing 34mph in a 30mph zone.

The trial continues.

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