Dangerous Blackburn driver killed 'hero' grandad in crash

Preston Crown Court heard how Reece Lawrence Fowler, 33, ran a red light in his van at the junction outside BAE Systems in Samlesbury before it ploughed into the side of the vehicle being driven by Martyn Smith.

Mr Smith, 57, from Burnley, was a toolmaker at BAE Systems who had just finished a night shift at the time of the crash with Fowler, an electrician, driving a work van on the way to a project in Liverpool.

The crash happened just after 5.30am on February 3, 2023.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said Mr Smith was just three weeks away from retiring and had plans to move to Wales with his wife Maria, and he had become a grandfather just weeks before the crash.

Reece Lawrence Fowler (Image: Lancashire Police)

Mr Polglase said on the day of the crash Mr Smith was waiting at a red traffic light in his Ford Focus as he was leaving the BAE Systems site.

When it turned green he turned right onto the A59 heading towards Mellor Brook.

Fowler, driving a grey Citroen van belonging to RkB Electrical, was travelling in the opposite direction and sped through the red signal, which investigators said had been on red for around 11 seconds – Fowler’s entire approach towards the junction.

Mr Smith’s car ended up several metres away from the impact point and witnesses who were also waiting at the junction quickly made their way over to help.

One witness, named only as Mr Cooper, described an “almighty noise” upon the impact and said he saw Fowler get out of the van and wander around in a daze.

He went to Mr Smith’s car and saw him slumped over the passenger seat, unconscious.

Another witness, Carol Cooper, no relation to Mr Cooper, said Mr Smith was bleeding either from the mouth or the neck and that his breathing was shallow.

Mr Polglase said Mr Smith died at the scene before an ambulance could arrive.

READ MORE: Tragedy as man dies in crash which closed A59 for several hours

The operations manager at RkB Electrical said employees were paid from the time they left home until the time they got back, so there would be no monetary incentive for Fowler to be going at the speed he was or to run the red light.

Data taken from the airbag in the van showed Fowler was travelling at 63mph at the time of impact on the 50mph road.

It showed evidence of slowing, having been going at 72mph five seconds before impact and at 68mph one second before.

A police officer from the vehicle data investigation unit said all the traffic signals were working correctly, while a collision investigation report said the road surface was damp, free from defects, and that street lighting was working and correct.

No defects or faults were found with any of the vehicles.

Fowler, of Walden Road, Blackburn, was interviewed on two separate occasions but declined to answer any questions, instead providing prepared statements both times.

In his basis of plea, he said he did not believe he was travelling at an excessive speed and that he did not deliberately run the red light, instead believing that it was green.

He said he can only assume that he lost concentration.

His barrister, Richard Dawson, said in mitigation Fowler has always acknowledged and accepted that all the failures to drive correctly amounted to dangerous driving.

The A59 junction outside BAE Systems (Image: Google Maps)

“This was not a deliberate decision by him as a driver to run the red light,” he said.

“We know from the movement of the vehicles post-collision there must have been some element of an attempt to swerve.”

The court also heard victim impact statements from Mr Smith’s family.

His wife, Maria Allen, said: “Martyn and I had so much to look forward to but he was taken away from me.

"We were excited at the birth of our grandson two weeks before. We had 25 years together.

“I’m lost, angry, and numb. I still struggle to accept this is real. We loved him more than words can describe.

“Because of his good salary, I never really needed to work. With only two-three weeks to go before his retirement, I’m left to run a large household.”

“I’ll forever be proud and lucky to have him in my life.”

Lewis Allen, Mr Smith’s stepson, said his life has been “tainted beyond words” while Joanne Smith, Martyn’s sister, described him as her “hero.”

She added: “When terrible things happened, Martyn always helped. He was a lovely, warm, and friendly person. We had lots of fun as kids and stayed close as adults.”

Mr Smith’s eldest son, Mark Smith, said: “We had our worlds turned upside down overnight.

"He was cruelly taken away by a man who didn’t pay attention to what he was doing.”

READ MORE: Man pleads guilty to death by dangerous driving

Edith Meek, Mr Smith’s mother,  said since his death she has struggled with ill health and described him as a “good man.”

Fowler, who has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, was sentenced to five years in prison with a seven-and-a-half-year driving ban.

To Mr Smith's family, Judge Philip Parry said: “Each of you speak of what a remarkable man he was and what an incalculable loss he will be to the family.

“In reality, the statements do no more than to scratch the surface and none of us will ever be able to understand the level of grief Mr Smith’s family have endured and will endure for the rest of their lives."

Sentencing Fowler, Judge Parry said: “Your inattention to the road ahead was for a significant period of time.

"I’m quite sure driving at the speed you did over the distance you drove and with a degree of inattention constitutes a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.”