A DRIVER has been charged with causing the deaths of three members of Yate & Sodbury Scooter Club in a collision.
Hugh Campion, aged 70, has also been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving to a fourth member of the club, who survived the crash last May.
Police announced today that Campion, of Upton Scudamore in Wiltshire, has been issued with a summons to appear at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court in August to answer the charges.
A Wiltshire police spokesperson said Campion was driving a Toyota Prius car that collided with three Vespa scooters on the A36 at Knook in the county, at around 10.30am on May 31 last year.
One of the Vespa riders, Robert Best (pictured above, right), 62, of Bradley Stoke, died at the scene of the crash.
Marie Jones, 64, of Yate (above, left), was the pillion passenger of the second Vespa, ridden by her husband Gary. Marie died of her injuries in hospital, while Gary was seriously injured.
The rider of the third scooter, Timothy Davies, 62, of Sharpness, Gloucestershire, also died of his injuries in hospital.
Two other scooters ridden by members of the club were travelling in the group but their riders were not injured in the collision.
The riders were on a pre-planned road trip to Normandy.
Investigating officer PC Paul Brewster, of Wiltshire police’s serious collision investigation team, said: “This is a significant development in our investigation into this tragic collision, in which three people lost their lives and a fourth suffered serious injuries.
“Our thoughts continue to be with their friends and families and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
“As the case will now proceed to court, I would ask the public not to speculate on the collision so as to not prejudice the proceedings.“