A WOMAN accused of causing the death of a pensioner by careless driving broke down in tears when she took the witness stand in court.

Deborah Quartey said she didn’t see motorcyclist Graham Hibbs before her Renault Clio collided with his Kawasaki bike, hurtling him through the air and onto the road.

Expert witnesses from both prosecution and defence teams agreed that parts of Victoria Road in Ferndown were obscured by shadows on the day the accident took place on January 28 last year. There was also bright sunlight.

Jurors have been told the collision took place as the defendant attempted to turn into Westwood Avenue, across the path of the oncoming motorbike.

Quartey, 24, of Thames Close, Ferndown, pleads not guilty to causing death by careless driving and told Bournemouth Crown Court that she saw a bus coming through roadworks further down the road but did not see the motorbike.

“Before I made the manoeuvre I checked it was OK to go” she said. “I saw the bus manoeuvring round the roadworks. There was nothing ahead of the bus as far as I could tell and I thought it was safe. The bus was so far away and I thought I had time.”

Trying to hold back tears she added: “The only thing I can think of is that he was in the shadows. In my heart of hearts I was careful. Anybody in my position at that time would have done the same thing.

“I am devastated that it happened. I know I was not careless. If I had been careless I would have pleaded guilty.”

A jury of six men and six women has been told that the collision took place on a dry and sunny afternoon.

Mr Hibbs had been waiting at the temporary traffic lights in front of a bus before making off. The collision took place 14 seconds later.

The 67-year-old, who lived in Wimborne, suffered severe head and chest injuries and died at the scene.

The court was told Quartey, who had her mother and a friend in the car at the time of the accident, was “hysterical and upset” at the scene.

Jurors went out to consider their verdicts yesterday. They will continue their deliberations this morning.