Dangerous driving accused drove "like a Formula One driver" on Robeston Wathen A40 (From Western Telegraph)

Dangerous driving accused drove "like a Formula One driver" on Robeston Wathen A40

4:17pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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A jury heard today accusations that a motorist was driving "like a Formula One driver" just before his car became airborne.

The prosecution claims that Callum James Fitzgibbon, aged 20, carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on the A40 near Robeston Wathen and had to swerve in front of another car to avoid on-coming traffic.

Fitzgibbon lost control of his Renault Clio, which somersaulted over the brow of a hill and hit a Vauxhall Corsa before sliding 150 yards to a stop.

Fitzgibbon denies dangerous driving on February 16th last year.

Creighton Harvey, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how motorists swerved onto the grass verge to avoid Fitzgibbon's Clio.

Mrs Sally Frost, of Narberth, said she saw Fitzgibbon driving erractically, rashly overtaking and then looking for further overtaking opportunities.

She said she expected some sort of impact and dropped back. "It was more on a par with Formula One than conventional driving," she added.

As the convoy of cars approached the Bush Inn between Robeston Wathen and Canaston Bridge she saw Fitzgibbon try to overtake a red Volkswagen Urban Fox and then suddenly swerve in front of the Urban Fox because of approaching vehicles.

"The Clio actually became airborne, rotating," she said.

Fire officer David Thomas Hancock, the station manager of Milford Haven, was driving his Honda 4x4 in the convoy and saw the Clio pull out.

He said he thought the driver hesitated during the manoeuvre and then suddenly "cut in front of the Volkswagen, so sharply."

The car then spun several times in the air, before rolling down the hill and hitting the Corsa, which ended up on the grass verge.

Mrs Jennifer Mogford, the driver of the Urban Fox, said she was doing between 50 and 55mph heading towards Canaston Bridge when the Clio "came from nowhere" and overtook her, before "cutting me up."

The Clio then "wobbled and somersaulted all the way down the hill."

Idwal Owen, who was heading the other way in his Renault Laguna, said he saw the Clio travelling towards him and thought there would be a head on collision.

He also swerved onto the grass verge.

Fitzgibbon, of Arthur Street, Cardiff, has yet to give evidence.