Watch driver's ‘catastrophic mistake’ which seriously injured biker in crash

Mark Chard, aged 43, was travelling in a black Nissan Micra on Landshire Lane in Stalbridge, North Dorset at 5.49pm on Thursday, October 8, 2020.

Dashcam footage shown at Weymouth Magistrates Court, taken from a vehicle behind Chard’s car, showed him tailgate a large vehicle transporter in front of him and he indicated right to turn towards the Gibbs Marsh Trading Estate.

But he failed to stop for oncoming traffic and a black Yamaha motorcycle hit the passenger side of his vehicle. 

The footage of the collision, obtained from Dorset Police, can be viewed below.

The motorcyclist, a father-of-two from Somerset, was taken to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance and the road was closed for several hours.

Driver should have waited to turn -  but 'thought he had enough time'

Chard indicated right and slowed down - but still turned right into the path of the biker. Picture: Dorset Police

Prosecuting, Louise Meaker, told the court: “Chard has crossed the line and caused the two vehicles to collide. Chard stopped at the scene and walked to the rider and said, ‘I just didn’t see him’.

“Mr Chard co-operated fully with the police. During police interview, he admitted being the driver but didn’t know the registration. He has owned the vehicle for three years.

She added: “He was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was driving from work. He remembers driving behind a lorry and saw a motorbike and thought he had enough time.

“Before he knew it, there was a bang.”

The collision left the 28-year-old motorcyclist with serious injures with long-term physical and mental impact, including a brain injury, a heart tear which required a stern, as well as difficulty in moving his hands and affected his eyesight.

A victim impact statement heard how he was placed in an induced coma for two weeks and his family were told it was ‘unlikely’ he would survive a heart operation.

He said: “My wife, mother, family all had to go to Southampton General Hospital as a matter of urgency as they were told I was unlikely to survive the operation.

“The trauma they suffered that evening, I think it will take months and years for them to recover from that.”

Driver regretted his actions and hoped biker was OK

A biker was seriously injured in a crash when Mark Chard, of Somerset, struck him while turning right into a road. Picture: Dorset Police

Chard, of West Street, Templecombe, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention.

Mitigating, Mr Freeland, told the court that Chard, a worker in Gillingham, ‘fully recognises the impact of those few seconds on the victim and his family’ and wanted to ‘express his grief and remorse’.

Mr Freeland said: “He has been driving for 15 years and has had no other accidents in that time.

“He is a good character with no previous convictions, and I would like you to give full credit for his plea.

“What you didn’t see on the dashcam was his concern. He expressed his concern and stayed at the scene and was as helpful as he could.”

'I hope you never ever make that mistake again'

The dashcam footage was taken from a vehicle behind Chard.

Chair of Magistrates, Robert Ford, criticised Chard’s driving manner and noted had he not tailgated the car transporter in front, he could have potentially seen the oncoming biker.

He said: “We have noted the fact you were remorseful and apologised today. You had a clean driving licence, and we are taking that into account.

“However, we noted from the video that you were considerably closer to the lorry than you should have been and therefore obstructed the view before you made the decision to turn right.

“We believe that judgement call you made, obstructing the view is enough to increase the penalty we are going to give.”

Chard’s driving licence was endorsed with nine penalty points and he was ordered to pay a £204 fine, court costs of £110 and £34 victim surcharge.

Following his sentencing, Mr Ford told Chard: “You have been driving for 15 years and you made a catastrophic mistake on that day, but it was aggravated by you being too close to the lorry in front and you didn’t pause and think.

“I hope you never ever make that mistake again.”