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Tributes at crash scene |
Dancer fails to recall details of fatal crash
Rider died after hitting pedestrian and lamp-post
A TEARFUL dancer gave evidence into the death of a young motorcyclist after telling a court she could not remember the moment they collided.
Jane Butler had just returned from a four-day break in Spain when waiter Steven Costa drove into her on a busy junction off Tottenham Court Road last July.
St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard how, after arriving in Gatwick, Ms Butler took the Tube to King’s Cross and was rushing to a cashpoint to pay a waiting taxi when Mr Costa, 23, hit her. The impact sent him flying into a lamp-post and he died at the scene, a coroner said on Monday.
Dr Andrew Reid recorded an accident verdict, ruling Mr Costa died after he and Ms Butler did not spot each other.
Ms Butler took to the witness box with the assistance of a walking- stick after suffering life-threatening injuries.
Despite telling the court she did not have a “full recollection” of the evening, in a police statement made not long after the accident she said there was “a chance” she may have crossed the road while the pedestrian light was red.
Dr Reid, reading out her statement, said: “There is a chance I would have crossed the road on a red pedestrian light but I always look first. I’m a cautious person and I always look around me.”
Ms Butler, from Bloomsbury, said: “I made a joke to the taxi driver about paying in euros and that’s the last thing I remember. There must be a reason why we did not see each other but I don’t know what that is.”
Mr Costa’s father Roberto Costa spoke only to confirm identification of his son, who lived in Raleigh Road, Hornsey, but described them as “very close”. He said his son had only had a few minor accidents in the two years he had been driving.
Two Polish men, Tomasz Roger Lewicki and Lukasz Gajkowski, tried to halt traffic after the crash. Mr Gajkowski thought Ms Butler had seen Mr Costa. “I had the impression she was aware she would cross in time,” he said.
Mr Lewicki said: “I heard an impact and I saw the girl had been hurt. I turned my head and I saw the motorcyclist. His helmet was missing. It had flown off.”
Expert witness PC Christopher Dunn said Mr Costa may have been overtaking as he turned into Grafton Way, and therefore been hidden from view, but he admitted he was unable to pinpoint the exact logistics of the accident.
Dr Reid, praising Ms Butler for her honesty, said: “On the evidence I accept neither saw each other and she, moving at speed, has accidentally ran across his path and caused the accident. It is not for me to decide any issues of liability.” |
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