A rugby player who killed a grandmother-of-five after reversing his van into her has been found not guilty of causing death by careless driving. After realising he had hit the woman, he ran out of his van and could be heard saying: "Oh my God, I didn't see her."
Collision in Blaina
Kim Blake, also known as Kim Haile, 65, died as a result of a collision with a van being driven by Jordan Reames-Williams, 33, on Church Street, Blaina, on January 18 last year. Ms Blake suffered a number of non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by the defendant but died in an ambulance after suffering a cardiac arrest.
A trial at Newport Crown Court heard Ms Blake was seen on CCTV walking up some steps towards Church Street where the defendant was parked in his Ford Transit. Ms Blake got to the top steps and turned left, continuing to walk on the pavement, but she moved into the road to step around a blue MG vehicle which was blocking her way.
Sequence of the incident
Mr Reames-Williams, a rugby player for Newbridge RFC, reversed his van briefly before moving forwards again. Ms Blake then appeared to cross Church Street, taking a diagonal path and walking parallel with the road. The defendant reversed a second time, initially at an angle before straightening up and travelling the same direction as Ms Blake was walking. She was struck to the back and knocked to the floor before Mr Reames-Williams began moving forwards again.
Upon realising he had hit Ms Blake, Mr Reames-Williams got out of the van and ran back to where she was lying in the road. Giving evidence in the trial, the defendant said: "I did not see her at any point." The defendant said when he spoke to Ms Blake she was conscious, and he said he got blankets off his bed to cover her while staff in the nearby hairdressers also provided blankets.
Verdict and family tribute
The court heard that at 1.23pm, some two hours after the collision, Ms Blake was pronounced dead at the scene. On Wednesday, a jury in the trial returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for less than an hour. Judge Daniel Williams told Mr Reames-Williams he was formally discharged and he could leave the courtroom.
Speaking at the time of Ms Blake's death, her family said: "Kim leaves behind a massive hole in our huge family and will be sadly missed by her three sons and five grandchildren and her brothers and sisters."
