Lorry driver, 69, killed female NHS paediatrician, 41, by knocking her off her bike after he failed to indicate before turning left, court told

A lorry driver killed an NHS paediatrician after knocking her off her bike as he failed to indicate before turning left, a court heard today.

Dr Marta Krawiec, 41, a noted food allergy consultant, was struck by a Mercedes HGV driven by Kevin Allen, 69, on her way to work at St Thomas’ hospital in London on August 4 2021.

She died after being dragged along the road by the front wheel of the lorry at the junction of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road near Holborn.

Dr Krawiec, born in Poland, was wearing a bright pink top and trousers and a helmet when she was hit.

Allen was in a middle lane for traffic going straight ahead but turned left, only indicating after he began to move, the Old Bailey heard.

He told police he had to be in the middle lane in order to get around the bend.

Allen has admitted causing death by careless driving but denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Paul Casey told jurors: ‘It was a bright, clear summer’s morning in central London, it was warm, dry, with good visibility, and the road conditions were near perfect for driving.

‘Mr Allen had travelled from Leigh Delamere services on the M4 and was due to deliver steel to a building site in London.

‘At around 8.50am he was heading south approaching the junction of Southampton Row and Theobalds Road.

‘On approaching the junction Mr Allen stopped at the red light and positioned his HGV in the middle southbound lane.

‘Behind him on the road and also approaching the junction was Marta Krawiec. She was cycling to work.

‘She pulled in to the left of his vehicle. There were other cyclists ahead of her either towards the front or in front of the HGV.

‘She was wearing brightly coloured clothes including a helmet. There is nothing to suggest her attention was not fully focused on the road ahead.

‘She was in the appropriate position on the road to continue her journey straight ahead.

‘However, Mr Allen in fact intended not to go straight ahead but to turn left into Theobalds Road.

‘He had given absolutely no indication that this is what he was going to do after leaving the junction.

‘As the lights turned to green Mr Allen’s HGV began to move off. At the same time Marta Krawiec also began to move off, by this point slightly ahead of the HGV.

‘Approximately, two seconds after Mr Allen began to move off his HGV began to show a left signal.

‘It came only after the lights had changed and after the vehicle began to move off.

‘Mr Allen’s failure to indicate in a timely fashion had catastrophic consequences. His HGV struck the rear wheel of Marta Krawiec’s bicycle causing her to fall forward and to the left.

‘She was immediately trapped by the front nearside wheel and was dragged along about 10 metres.

‘She screamed and the audible warning of the HGV began to sound. She sustained multiple and ultimately fatal injuries and she died at the scene.’

Allen remained at the scene and was found not to be under the influence of drink or drugs, the court heard.

Mr Casey said: ‘The prosecution do not suggest that his being in the incorrect lane in itself necessarily amounted to dangerous or careless driving.

‘Had it been entirely in the correct lane it would have been difficult for him to effect a turn for a vehicle of that length.

‘If you conclude this was or may have been correct the prosecution suggest the imperative for him to make clear his intentions for other road users was all the greater.

‘He did not do anything else to indicate his intention such as by straddling the two lanes.’

Allen is from Mansfield but would regularly deliver goods to building sites in London, the court heard.

He had slept at Leigh Delamere services after driving there from Cardiff the previous day.

Allen from Mansfield, Notts, denies causing death by dangerous driving. He admits causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues and is set to conclude next week.