Khan's high-performance BMW 'accelerated through a red light and knocked down a pedestrian' - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Khan's high-performance BMW 'accelerated through a red light and knocked down a pedestrian'

Boxer Amir Khan drove dangerously when he accelerated through a red light and knocked down a pedestrian on a pelican crossing, a court heard today.

Khan's high-performance BMW 6 series convertible reached a top speed of 47mph as he overtook vehicles in the wrong lane just before the traffic lights in Bolton town centre.

The injured pedestrian, Geoffrey Hatton, 55, told Bolton Crown Court that just before the collision he heard a "screaming engine" and then found himself on the floor shouting, "I've lost my leg".

Foundry worker Mr Hatton suffered a broken leg in the crash in Bradshawgate on March 2 last year.

Mr Alaric Bassano said Khan, 20, of Lostock, near Bolton, approached the junction with Great Moor Street at about 4.40pm during peak hour traffic.

He said the reigning Commonwealth lightweight champion was well in excess of the speed limit as he accelerated towards the junction.

The carriageway was divided into two lanes and Khan wrongly overtook two vehicles in a right-turn only lane as he drove straight on and through the red light.

Mr Bassano said: "As he did so some pedestrians were on the pelican crossing.

"One of the pedestrians, the last one to cross, was Geoffrey Hatton.

"He was in the carriageway as the defendant was driving through the junction. He evidently panicked and he turned back towards the pavement.

"He moved into the defendant's line of traffic and the defendant's vehicle hit him."

Mr Bassano said Khan was guilty of dangerous driving regardless of whether or not there had been a collision.

"It was the cumulative effect of three factors taken together which rendered the defendant's driving dangerous.

"Speed, overtaking in the wrong lane and driving through a red light," he said.

He added that Khan's vehicle, which he said was capable of rapid acceleration, reached a top speed of 47mph during the incident which was captured on CCTV and shown to the jury today.

Questioned by Mr Bassano, Mr Hatton, of Bolton, said he thought it was safe to cross and was not aware of any oncoming traffic.

He had been walking to a local pub with a work colleague after finishing his shift.

Mr Hatton said he heard his friend shout at him as he crossed the road and said he panicked as he thought a car was coming.

"I heard a screaming engine and the next thing I knew I was on the floor shouting 'I've lost my leg'," he said.

The court was told that Khan remained at the scene and was arrested and interviewed by police three months later when he made no comment.

Khan denied dangerous driving.

The Olympic silver medallist is unbeaten in 14 fights as a professional and has been widely tipped to win a world title.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow when Mr Hatton will be cross examined by Mr John Jones QC.

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