A MOTORIST’S brief inattention approaching a village road junction had tragic consequences, a court heard.

Peter Rogers admits he was looking for “too long” in his rear view mirror as his Vauxhall Zafira neared a 'Give Way' line at Edmondsley crossroads, near Chester-le-Street, at about 10am on Good Friday, April 3, last year.

It meant the car emerged straight out at the junction, into the path of a Hyundai Getz, being driven along the B6532 in Edmondsley.

Durham Crown Court heard that the Zafira hit the side of the Getz, knocking both vehicles around 45-degrees.

The Getz was also thrown onto its side, with rear seat passenger Raymond Armstrong left seriously injured, trapped between the door next to where he had been sitting and the road surface.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, said passers-by came to the aid of Mr Armstrong, and his daughter and son and daughter-in-law, who were in the two front seats.

Paramedics and firefighters arrived on scene and the car roof was removed to enable the occupants to be freed.

All three were taken to Durham’s University Hospital of North Durham, where 79-year-old Mr Armstrong was declared dead later that day, while his daughter-in-law was treated for fractured ribs.

Mr Reid said the post-mortem examination confirmed the much-loved great-grandfather, from Edmondsley, died from “unsurvivable” head injuries.

His son told police that, unusually, Mr Armstrong had not, by that stage early in their journey, fastened his seat belt.

Rogers initially made no comment when first interviewed, but later told police he was looking into his rear view mirror approaching the junction, but for too long, and by the time he saw the red Hyundai he skidded, but could not avoid a collision.

Mr Reid said a police driving expert said there was no evidence of any braking by the Zafira, prior to the impact, but he confirmed both vehicles were travelling at less than the 30mph limit for the road at the time.

Rogers, 44 and of Moulton Place, Newcastle, admitted causing death by careless driving.

Kieran O’Neill, mitigating, handed character testimonials to the court on Rogers’ behalf.

He told the court: “This tragic event in April last year has had a massive impact, clearly on the part of the deceased’s family, but also that of the defendant.

“It’s a tragic, tragic event that clearly shouldn’t have happened, but it has, and both families have to live with the consequences."

Mr O’Neill said the defendant was hard-working, had no previous convictions and, until now, had a totally clean driving licence.

Imposing a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Hickey said the ‘Give Way’ markings were quite clear on the road.

“Any careful or competent driver would have slowed and made the appropriate adjustments to cross that junction safely," he said.

“You should, and could, have seen all those signs leading up to the junction.”

The judge banned Rogers from driving for three years and also ordered him to perform 100-hours’ unpaid work, pay £400 costs and a £100 statutory surcharge.