A driver who killed a man in a crash ‘failed to spot a broken down car’ on the A419.
Brandon Langford was driving a Volkswagen Crafter van on the major route in Blunsdon when he struck a Ford Mondeo taxi – which was stationary in a live lane.
45-year-old Royal Air Force engineer and refugee counsellor Kumarathas Nadarajah, from Swindon, was out of his broken down vehicle, and he was also struck by the defendant’s van.
Tragically, he was dragged along the road for approximately 50 metres and pronounced dead at the scene, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard today (Wednesday).
Kate Prince, prosecuting, said that several other motorists had successfully passed the taxi at around 7.30am on 12 June 2022, but 21-year-old Langford collided with the obvious obstruction.
The defendant was found to be in possession of cannabis. However, drug testing revealed that whilst it was in his blood stream, he was under the drug-drug limit.
Langford pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and possession of cannabis, and magistrates sent the case to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on 16 February.
A pre-sentence report was ordered and the defendant, of Westcott Road, Kidderminster, was released on unconditional bail. He was also given an interim driving disqualification.
Kumarathas’ family issued a tribute to the father-of-two following his death, describing him as a “most trusted, honest and respectful man” – read it in full here >
