Driver relives moment of fatal crash after UB40 concert in Hatfield

Ian Morton (Image: Archant)

Joe Georgiou had been returning home to Enfield from a friend’s home in Welwyn Garden City, in the early hours of June 22, when the fatal collision with Ian Morton occurred.

At an inquest into Mr Morton’s death in Hatfield last week, Mr Georgiou spoke about the events leading up to the 56-year-old’s death.

The collision, which claimed his life, happened on a “pitch black” 60mph stretch of the A1000/Great North Road as he was walking back from a UB40 music concert at Hatfield House.

Mr Morton, of Woods Avenue, who was wearing dark clothes, had been drinking heavily before, during and after the gig.

Mr Georgiou said: “There was one vehicle in front of me 25 metres or so [away], and then the car in front of me went round the bend to the left and disappeared out of sight.

“I put my full beams on [and] as soon as I put my full beams on it lit up Ian and I struck him.

“He was in the middle of the road.”

He added: “As soon as I saw him I tried to drive to the left to avoid him, but I couldn’t, I didn’t have enough time.”

Mr Georgiou then stopped and put on his hazard warning lights.

The inquest also heard how a short time later, motorcyclist Richard Wood approached the scene after finishing his shift at Asda in Hatfield. He was heading to his then home in Barnet.

Believing the obstruction to be a breakdown he moved to avoid Mr Geogiou’s Vauxhall Corsa, and hit Mr Morton again and came off his bike.

Assistant coroner Edward Solomons told the court toxicologist Dr Stephen Morley said

investigations had revealed Mr Morton was more than four times the legal drink drive limit and would have been “significantly inebriated”.