An Uber driver is on trial for the death of a speeding motorcyclist in Birmingham. The biker’s high speed is a key factor.
Mohammed Iqbal drove his Skoda Octavia. Damian Demkowski hit the car’s back side on Station Road in Stechford, coming from Iqbal’s left.
Demkowski was 33 years old, and he was speeding before he braked. His speed was 55mph to 74mph in an area with a 30mph speed limit. The jury learned that Iqbal’s actions mattered, even as the court heard that the crash would not have happened properly. Iqbal denies causing death by careless driving.
The case started Tuesday, February 4, regarding an incident that occurred August 19, 2022. The court was told that Iqbal had finished his work shift at 3 p.m. and was heading home. Iqbal was then at the A4040 Station Road junction.
Iqbal waited at the junction for 19 seconds, wanting to cross Station Road. The lane near him was full of traffic, while the far lane seemed empty. He drove into Station Road when there.
Iqbal proceeded into the first lane and crossed the central white line. Demkowski then drove down the road. The motorbike and the taxi collided.
The motorcycle struck the taxi’s passenger side rear, and It appears Demkowski was thrown from his bike and sustained fatal injuries. He died at the scene of the crash.
The jury viewed CCTV footage of the crash. Iqbal told police he saw the bike and said it was very far away. Later, he claimed he saw no vehicles coming.
The jury must decide which version occurred. A prosecution expert evaluated Demkowski’s speed as 55mph to 74mph before impact, and he was on a Kawasaki motorcycle. A defense expert calculated it as 65mph.
The jury will consider if the biker’s speed mattered and if the speed absolves Iqbal of blame. Experts said had Demkowski obeyed the speed limit, it seems the crash would not have happened.
Jurors will also consider visibility and if Iqbal had a clear view properly, or should he have checked again fully there. The prosecutor argues that not yielding was careless.
The prosecutor said that if Iqbal hadn’t crossed, it seems the crash would not have occurred. He stated Demkowski would not have died then.
The defense argues Iqbal did all he could it seems. They claim Demkowski’s speed caused it instead, and the trial is ongoing for the moment there.
