A man accused of killing a father and seriously injuring his nine‑year‑old son in a head‑on collision told a court he lost control after driving "on mud", the prosecution said during opening arguments at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.
The crash occurred on November 16 on the A483 near Welshpool when a BMW allegedly driven by 30‑year‑old optometrist Abubakr Yusaf of Manchester collided with a Toyota Yaris driven by 41‑year‑old Rhys Jenkins, a rugby referee from Powys. Mr Jenkins died at the scene and his son Ioan, nine, was taken by air ambulance to Alder Hey Children's Hospital with serious injuries.
Prosecuting barrister John Philpotts told the jury a witness said the two brothers were driving at around 70mph and that the BMW was attempting to overtake a van when it began to fishtail and veer onto the verge. The prosecution says the passenger side went onto the verge, the driver lost control and the vehicle swerved into the oncoming lane where the Toyota Yaris was travelling toward Newtown.
"The manner in which that BMW and Audi were being driven by the defendants meant they were effectively a car crash waiting to happen," Mr Philpotts said, adding the cars had been driven aggressively and dangerously and that each driver had encouraged the other. The prosecution alleges both men were effectively racing and that their driving led to the fatal collision even though only one vehicle made contact with the Toyota.
Abubakr Yusaf, 30, and his brother Umar Yusaf, 34, who is also from Manchester, deny causing the death by dangerous driving. Umar Yusaf told the court that while there were overtakes with his brother they were carried out "in a safe manner" and disputed witness characterisations of his driving.
The prosecution also told the jury the brothers had been tailgating other traffic before the collision. A witness cited by the Crown said one of the drivers was "desperate" to overtake a van, a description used to support the allegation of competitive driving between the two men.
The trial will examine witness accounts, vehicle movements and other evidence to determine whether the defendants' driving caused the death and injuries. Both men remain on trial and have entered pleas denying the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Proceedings are ongoing at Mold Crown Court.