Latest news with #RodrigoVasileCosma
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Bedford Audi driver found guilty over pedestrian death
A man whose turbo-charged car hit and killed a pedestrian on a crossing has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. Albert Jarosz, 27, admitted causing Rodrigo-Vasile Cosma's death by careless driving in Bedford last of Brereton Road, Bedford, had denied causing death by dangerous driving. but was found guilty by a jury at Luton Crown Cosma, 25, was hit by Jarosz's Audi A6 at a junction in Bedford town centre on 26 March 2024. Jurors heard how the accident happened at about 18:30 GMT at the junction of Midland Road, River Street and Sam Barker told the trial that Mr Cosma was crossing the road just after the traffic lights turned green. Jarosz moved into a left-hand lane, before cutting back into a right-hand lane to get ahead in a "selfish" move, he said. A police crash investigator estimated the car was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph who came from Poland in 2019, said he had been driving home from a garage in nearby Milton Ernest, where he was a car body said he had been driving in the UK for four years before the collision, but had not read the Highway Code, and was unfamiliar with the road layout in central Bedford."I just followed the road but, before the traffic lights, I realised I am in the wrong lane, so I decided to change lanes," Jarosz told the trial."I thought I had got enough time to get in front of the stationary cars."I accelerated a bit just to get in front of the cars."Jarosz stopped and called 999 after the accident, jurors were of the witnesses said he saw him with his head in his hands, saying: ''I am sorry''. Court staff said Judge Allison Hunter had adjourned sentencing to 14 October. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
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Brian Farmer BBC News Bedfordshire Reporting from Luton Crown Court Brian Farmer/BBC Audi driver Albert Jarosz had not read The Highway Code, a jury was told A driver whose turbo-charged car hit and killed a pedestrian on a crossing has told a jury he had never read The Highway Code. Albert Jarosz, 27, admits causing Rodrigo-Vasile Cosma's death by careless driving - but denies causing death by dangerous driving. Jurors at his trial in Luton Crown Court have seen CCTV footage of 25-year-old Mr Cosma being hit and thrown into the air in Bedford town centre in March 2024. The trial has heard how a police crash investigator made a "conservative" estimate that the Audi A6, capable of 0 to 60 mph in about six seconds, was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph zone. Mr Jarosz, a car body worker, of Brereton Road, Bedford, told jurors he had been born in Poland and moved to the UK in 2019. He said he had exchanged a Polish driving licence for a UK one and had been driving in the UK for about four years before the collision. Sam Barker, prosecuting, asked Mr Jarosz on Tuesday: "Have you ever read The Highway Code?" Mr Jarosz answered: "No, I did not." He said no-one had told him to read it and that he thought the rules of the road in Britain were "similar" to those in other countries. 'Selfish decision' Mr Barker has told jurors how the accident happened at about 18:30 GMT on 26 March 2024 at the junction of Midland Road, River Street and Greyfriars in Bedford. He said Mr Cosma was jogging over the crossing just after traffic lights turned green. Mr Jarosz had got ahead of vehicles, which had been waiting at the crossing lights, by moving into a left-hand lane, then cutting back into a right-hand lane, he added. Mr Barker argued that Mr Jarosz had made a "selfish decision" to "shave a few seconds" off his journey. Brian Farmer/BBC Mr Jarosz is on trial at Luton Crown Court Mr Jarosz told jurors he had been driving home from a garage where he worked in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire. He said he was not familiar with the road layout in that area of Bedford. "I just followed the road but, before the traffic lights, I realised I am in the wrong lane, so I decided to change lanes," Mr Jarosz, who gave evidence with the help of an interpreter, told the trial. "I thought I had got enough time to get in front of the stationary cars." He added: "I accelerated a bit just to get in front of the cars." Jurors heard that shortly after the accident, Mr Jarosz had told police he knew he was "driving a little bit fast" but that Mr Cosma had been crossing the road on a red light. The jury has been told that Mr Jarosz had stopped and called 999 after the accident. A witness said he saw the defendant with his head in his hands, saying: "I am sorry." The case continues. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Jury sees footage of pedestrian fatally hit by car Related internet links HM Courts and Tribunals Service
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Bedford Audi driver who fatally hit pedestrian on trial
A motorist who hit a pedestrian at a town-centre crossing after undertaking a line of cars has gone on trial accused of causing death by dangerous at Luton Crown Court saw CCTV footage of 25-year-old Rodrigo-Vasile Cosma being hit by a black Audi A6 at a junction in Bedford in March driver Albert Jarosz, 27, of Brereton Road, Bedford, admits causing death by careless driving - but denies causing death by dangerous driving.A jury heard how police estimated that Mr Jarosz was driving at 45mph in a 30 mph zone and were told how Mr Cosma had been thrown 35 metres - about 114 feet. The trial continues. 'Selfish' Barrister Sam Barker, prosecuting, said the accident happened at about 18:30 BST on 26 March 2024 at the junction of Midland Road, River Street and Greyfriars in said Mr Cosma was jogging over a crossing just after the traffic lights turned Jarosz had got ahead of vehicles which had been waiting at the lights by moving into a left-hand lane, then cutting back into a right-hand lane, he Barker said Mr Jarosz had been driving home and made a "selfish decision" to "beat the traffic" and "shave a few seconds" off his journey."You will hear evidence about a revving engine," Mr Barker told jurors."You will hear about speed and the manoeuvre that was being performed by the Audi."He said jurors had to decide whether Mr Jarosz's driving fell "far below the standard of a careful and competent driver." 'I am sorry' One witness told the trial, overseen by Judge Allison Hunter, how he heard a "loud noise", a car accelerating, and a "loud bang".Another witness said the "black car" was going "very fast" and they criticised his driving.A third witness said Mr Cosma had been wearing a "hi-viz jacket".Mr Barker said Mr Cosma suffered "unsurvivable" brain injuries and had died in hospital shortly after the heard that Mr Jarosz had stopped and got out of the Audi.A witness said he saw him with his head in his hands and saying "I am sorry". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
