Justice at last on killer driver

Feb 19 2008 By Emma Cullwick

THE driver of a powerful Jaguar car has finally been prosecuted more than a year after an horrific crash in which a maintenance worker died.

Michael Ward, known to friends and family as Mick, suffered fractures to his skull and ribs in the impact when the luxury sports car ploughed into the back of a Ford Transit van as he tried to attach a tow chain underneath.

Mr Ward, aged 46, was a single man who lived in Station Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.

The tragedy happened in Forge Lane, West Bromwich, on December 21, 2006, as Mr Ward attempted to help a friend who had broken down. Crown Prosecution Service case investigators originally decided not to charge the driver of the 4.2 litre Jaguar XK8, Bryan Mason, from Hammerwich, near Lichfield.

But Black Country coroner Robin Balmain took the unusual decision of putting the matter to a jury at an inquest last October, rather than recording a verdict himself.

The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing and as a result the coroner referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the CPS re-examined the case.

CPS officers today revealed that Mason was eventually charged with careless driving.

He appeared at West Bromwich Magistrates' Court where he was fined £700, his driving licence endorsed with four points and ordered to pay £34 costs after admitting the allegation.

At the inquest Mason claimed he had his vision impaired by fog and low winter sunshine and failed to spot the tow truck and van until he crashed into them.

But police accident investigators said Mason would have had about 146 metres to see the van and rescue vehicle, which had hazard lights showing.

Mr Ward's sister, Ivy Ward, said his family was pleased with the decision of the CPS to look at the case again. She said: "We did not want an individual punished, we just wanted the truth to come out."