Teenager who killed dad-of-one in 'unusual circumstances' walks free from court
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA teenage van driver who killed a biker after failing to spot a red light while correcting a wrong turn has walked free from court.
Joseph Moffat smashed into speeding biker Christopher Gage as he tried to turn back the way he'd come when he realised he was in the wrong lane, a court heard.
Mr Gage, a dad-of-one, was taken to hospital following the smash in Rochdale but died several days later. Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Moffat, 18, who had an 'impeccable record', was driving near the junction close to Hopwood Hall College on Rochdale Road in September 2020 when he made the 'rash decision' to turn in the road. "He had taken a wrong turn, he was confused as to where he was and he made a rash decision, having not noticed a red light, he only noticed a green light" Mr Tom Gent, defending told the court.
Moffat, who had been driving for 18 months, originally pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving but later changed his plea to guilty.
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