Gordon Elliott Death: A 92-year-old man was fatally injured by a Derbyshire motorcyclist who was travelling at a high speed when he collided with a queue of traffic as he and his cycle slid along the pavement, according to a court. The Derby Crown Court heard that Alfie Wheatley, 21, was recorded at 64mph in a 30mph zone prior to the collision. While overtaking a queue of traffic behind him, he collided with a vehicle turning right and struck and killed Gordon Elliott with his Aprillia RS 125. Derby Crown Court heard that Mr. Elliott, an ex-serviceman with five great-grandchildren, was on his “last journey” to the newsagents while walking along the pavement.
Judge Martin Hurst informed Wheatley that it was “unambiguously evident” that he had driven at a “excessive” speed. He further stated, “You were unexpectedly confronted with a vehicle that was travelling at a low speed, turning right, while you were travelling at speeds ranging from 50 to 60 mph.” Jon Fountain, the prosecutor, recounted that Wheatley collided with Mr. Elliott on Greenhill Lane in Riddings at approximately 8:25 a.m. on August 19, 2023, while operating his uninsured Aprillia RS 125 at high speed. He stated, “Mr. Elliott passed away as a result of his injuries, after he collided with the pavement while sliding.” Mr. Wheatley did not experience a brief instant of inattention. He was operating at a perilous and unsuitable velocity.
Mr. Fountain informed the court that Wheatley was observed on CCTV the same morning travelling at speeds ranging from 50mph to 62mph on 30-mph roads. He was travelling at 64mph just 162 meters from the collision site. The court was shown CCTV footage that depicted Wheatley passing a queue of vehicles that were awaiting a Jaguar to turn right in front of them at a speed of at least 54 mph. Wheatley collided with the Jaguar’s front offside as he and his cycle slid down the pavement, colliding with Mr. Elliott. Mr. Fountain stated that Mr. Elliott was on the pavement when the collision occurred, but he was unable to react before being thrown into the air by Mr. Wheatley and the motorcycle. The court heard that Wheatley, who had no prior convictions at the time, remained at the scene until the police arrived and successfully completed a roadside alcohol test.
Additionally, his license was free of any prior penalty points. The defendant claimed that he had driven “cautiously” during his arrest because he was aware that his brakes were not functioning properly. Mr. Fountain, however, disputed this claim, stating that the brakes were subsequently tested by the police and were found to be in working order. “As Elliott descended, he struck the back of his head.” It was immediately evident to the public that he had sustained a severe injury. The 92-year-old was administered CPR by passersby, and an ambulance was summoned to transport him to Nottingham’s Queens Medical Centre. He passed away at 2:20 p.m. on the same day.
