A HEREFORDSHIRE mechanic has been found not guilty of causing death by careless driving on the A49 north of Shrewsbury.

A jury found Carl Whitfield, 41, of St Peter's Close, Moreton-on-Lugg not guilty following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court. 

The crash took place on August 26, 2015 when Mr Whitfield was driving a Vauxhall Movano at Acton Bridge on the A49 between Hadnall and Preston Brockhurst just after 3.15pm.

Sebastian Ward, 32, was in a Ford KA and waiting to turn right to return to his business, Seb Ward Car Sales, when he was struck from behind by the Vauxhall Movano being driven by Mr Whitfield. 

The impact pushed the car into the path of another Vauxhall Movano van coming in the opposite direction and Mr Ward died at the scene. 

Mr Whitfield told the jury the van he was driving developed a fault causing it to gather speed as he was trying slow down.

Mr Whitfield, a mechanic for 25 years, had been repairing the Vauxhall van on the day of the accident.

He had set off on a test drive and saw Mr Ward's Ford Ka about 50 metres ahead and had seen the car indicate to turn right into the Seb Ward Car Sales premises.

As the car stopped he could see another Vauxhall van coming in the opposite direction and believed he had a safe distance to stop.

He said that when he took his foot off the accelerator to slow down the turbo diesel engine revved and the van had gained speed.

"I panicked for a moment and then braked hard and the front wheels locked. I swerved to the left to try and avoid a collision but the front offside of the van hit the rear of the car," he said.

He said it all happened in 'split seconds' and the van's engine was still revving as it carried on the grass verge until it stalled and stopped and he switched off the engine.

The court heard from expert witnesses about a potential malfunction of the engine called 'spontaneous acceleration', known in the trade as 'run away', although it was said to be rare.