AN elderly cyclist seemed to suddenly veer to his right to turn at a road junction, as a bus was overtaking, a police accident expert told a court.

But, PC Michael Woodhouse said the driver could have sounded his horn to warn the two cyclists ahead as he was about to perform the overtaking manoeuvre.

PC Woodhouse, a forensic collision expert, was giving evidence on the opening day of the trial of Go North-East driver James Forsyth Cox, over the circumstances leading to the death of Walter Frederick Heighley.

The eighty-one-year-old cyclist was out with friend Henry Richardson, on their electric-powered cycles, on the B6532, Durham to Sacriston road, at the time of the collision with the single-deck 16A Diamond route bus, at about 11.15am on Tuesday November 17, 2015.

Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said as Mr Cox was in the midst of his overtaking manoeuvre Mr Heighley was just starting to veer rightwards, intending to turn onto Potterhouse Lane.

The front nearside of the bus appeared to strike the rear wheel of Mr Heighley’s cycle, dragging it along for a short distance until the bus came to a halt.

But Mr Heighley, of Dryburn Road, Durham, was confirmed dead at the scene from the injuries suffered in the collision.

Mr Richardson said his once risk averse friend had become noticeably less safety conscious over the year, or so, prior to the accident.

He said he recently came off his bike several times, often in collision with overtaking mountain bikers, and took chances emerging from junctions when eyeing gaps in the traffic.

Mr Richardson said when he mentioned this to him, Mr Heighley replied that it was, “split second timing”, or “precision timing”.

He also confirmed that Mr Heighley would not have signalled, as he would have used his right hand to control the bike’s throttle when turning.

Having viewed the dashboard-mounted camera footage, PC Woodhouse said it appeared the bus slowed from 39 to 34-miles per hour in the seconds before the collision, as it moved into the opposite carriageway to overtake the cyclists.

Asked by Mr Doswell, PC Woodhouse said Mr Cox could have notified the cyclists of his presence by sounding his horn.

But, under cross-examination by defence counsel Lorraine Mustard, about Mr Heighley’s turning manoeuvre, the officer said: “It certainly looks as if it’s a sudden movement.”

Mr Cox, 46, of Millfield Court, Blackhill, Consett, denies causing Mr Heighley’s death by careless driving.

The trial continues.