Audi driver fatally collided with taxi whilst driving at ‘high speed’ with another Audi, trial hears

An Audi driver fatally collided with a taxi whilst driving at ‘high speed’ with another Audi, prosecutors allege.

Krishan Patel, 24, was travelling along Trafford Road, in Ordall, Salford, in his Audi A3 when he collided with a Renault Megane in September 2020. The driver of the Renault Megane, William Welsh, sustained multiple injuries and sadly died two days later.

Mr Patel, of Preston, denies causing death by dangerous driving and is on trial at Manchester Crown Court.

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Opening the case for the prosecution, Brian Berlyne said that just after 9am on September 10 2020, Mr Welsh was driving his taxi along Trafford Road heading north, and had no passengers at the time. The weather was fine and the road surface was dry, he said.

As he was travelling along Trafford Road, which is a dual carriageway and governed by a 30mph speed limit, he moved into a filter lane with the intention of turning right into Phoebe Street, jurors heard.

“As Mr Welsh began to approach the junction, danger was approaching from the opposite direction,” Mr Berlyne continued.

“Two Audi’s were driving along Trafford Road at speed. The first vehicle was driven by Daniel Hawkins.

“The Audi behind Mr Hawkins was being driven by Mr Patel. There is no evidence that Mr Patel knew Mr Hawkins or communicated with him. He was simply driving an Audi at high speed, and the other Audi also happened to be driving at high speed.”

Jurors were told that the trial does not relate to charges against Mr Hawkins, though there was evidence that Mr Hawkins’ vehicle was being driven faster than Mr Patel.

Mr Hawkins was driving his vehicle at ‘high speed’ towards the junction