Driver fined £160 over death of e-scooter rider who hit her car door

SHE DIDN'T SEE HIM APPROACHING, COURT IS TOLD

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A DRIVER who caused the death of an e-scooter rider when she opened her car door as he passed has been fined £160.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Lauren Bardill opened the door of her Mercedes in Top Valley on June 5, having failed to see father-of-one Scott Catton riding the vehicle behind her.

As a result, the 54-year-old clipped her door and hit his head on the road. He suffered catastrophic injuries from which he never recovered.

After being taken to hospital, his family had to make the tragic decision to switch off his life support machine two days before he was due marry his long-term partner.

Following a police investigation, Bardill, of Top Valley, was charged with the rarely prosecuted offence of "opening the door of a vehicle so as to injure or endanger a person" which carries a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.