A POLICE officer's U-turn on the A590 before a fatal crash was allegedly "unsafe", a court has heard. 

PC Patsy Blakeborough, 41, has gone on trial at Carlisle Crown Court having denied causing the death of motorcyclist Scott Gibson. 

Mr. Gibson, aged 23, died from multiple injuries sustained in a collision between his Honda bike and Blakeborough's marked police van on 4th April last year. 

This occurred in darkness on the main road between Barrow and Ulverston. Collision investigator PC Craig Irving, who investigated the crash, gave evidence to the jury. 

He was asked whether a U-turn made by Blakeborough, from a bus stop directly across the A590, was a safe move. 

"In my opinion, obviously I have done a lot of reconstruction having sat in that van at that layby, then no, it is not safe to carry out that manoeuvre," said PC Irving. 

The court was told today (TUES) that a number of police officers and one "shocked" member of the public saw Mr. Gibson's motorcycle earlier that evening in and around Barrow. 

There were major concerns about its speed, which was estimated as between 70-80mph in a 40mph zone. 

One officer believed it could have been travelling from 80-100mph at one stage, and said a colleague frantically flashed his vehicle headlights in a bid to slow down the rider. 

However, a statement from motorist Anthony Drummond was read to the court. Mr. Drummond passed Blakeborough's van and a police car in the bus stop on his way to Barrow. He then saw Mr. Gibson's bike ride towards him, away from the Melton roundabout, seconds before the fatal crash. 

"I saw a motorcycle come off the roundabout travelling at a reasonable speed, as you might expect. It started to accelerate to go down what is a straight, clear road going towards Lindal," Mr. Drummond stated. 

"For some reason, probably to see the rider's reaction to seeing two police cars, I looked in my rear view mirror. All this happened in a very short time. I saw the police van sideways across the road. 

"At this point I looked away from the road. I was still driving forward towards the roundabout. It was then that I heard a thump, a bump, a bang." Jurors heard that following an investigation into the crash, a number of contributory factors had been ruled out. 

There was no suggestion that fatigue, a lack of driver experience or mobile phone use had been a cause, nor did either driver have any traces of drugs or alcohol in their systems. 

There were no mechanical defects found on either vehicle, no contributory medical conditions or distractions. 

In addition, the road conditions were said to be dry and the visibility was good. 

Blakeborough, of Walney, disputes the allegations of carelessness. 

The trial continues.