A minicab driver who fell asleep at the wheel and

A minicab driver who fell asleep at the wheel and killed one
one man and injured another has been cleared of causing
death by reckless driving.

Bus driver Mark Husbands, 23, Chandos Road, Tottenham, was
accused of recklessly risking lives because of the long shifts he
had been working with Broadway Cars in Tottenham while moonlighting.

Husbands told police he had slept five hours in the previous two days.

But he argued that although tired, he had been sufficiently alert
to continue taking fares.

A jury at the Old Bailey acquitted him of causing death by
reckless driving, which he had denied.

The court was told Robert Benbow, 38, and workmate Michael Hyland,
30, had been loading tools into the back of a car when Husband’s Ford
Sierra careered across the road towards them.

The impact sent the two men flying across the pavement.

Benbow, from Tudor Court, North Wembley, took the
full force of the smash and died from multiple injuries.

Mr Hyland, from York Avenue, Hanwell, Middx, was seriously injured
but survived.

Police then began painstakingly piecing together the events that
led up to the tragedy.

Husband’s two passengers, Sue Styles and Sarah Blanchard, both 22,
of Leyton, said they left a party in Tottenham at about 1am on March
14 this year and went to the Broadway Cars office nearby.

When the controller directed them to Husband’s Ford, he was found
slumped in the driver’s seat, apparently sound asleep, said Miss Sally
Howes, prosecuting.

They roused him by knocking on the door.

Miss Styles said they were driving past Blackhorse Road underground
station in Forest Road, Walthamstow, when she looked up in horror to
see Husbands slumped to one side.

The car veered across the road and onto the pavement where Mr
Benbow and Mr Hyland were standing.

‘In effect, Husbands was asleep.

The Ford struck them and lifted
them into the air.

They both landed several feet away.

‘Husbands and his two passengers survived, as did Mr Hyland.

‘
An ambulance rushed Mr Benbow to hospital but he died later that
morning of multiple injuries, the court heard.

When police quizzed Husbands at the scene about the accident, he
allegedly said: ‘I think I fell asleep.

I remember coming onto the
wrong side of the road.

‘I don’t remember much after that.

‘I’ve been working since 7am.

I haven’t had more than four or five
hours sleep in the last 48.

‘
Police tests later showed Husbands had been driving at or near the
30 mph speed limit before accident.

Miss Howes said he must have known he was not in a fit state to
drive when he offered to take the two young women home.

But Husbands claimed although weary, he still believed he was fit
to accept fares in his minicab.

Husbands held his hands to his face in relief as the unanimous
verdict not guilty verdict was announced by the jury after two hours
deliberation.

ENDS
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