Surgeon guilty in road crash case

A Royal Navy surgeon has been found guilty of careless driving in an accident in which a motorcyclist died.

Dr Richard Hughes, 29, from Plymbridge Lane, Derriford in Plymouth, collided with a lorry early on 4 January 2008 on the M3 near Fleet in Hampshire.

After the collision, his car was partly in the middle lane of the motorway and Martin Hopper, 40, collided with it.

Hughes, based in Gosport, Hampshire, was acquitted of causing the death by dangerous driving.

Father-of-three Mr Hopper, from Basingstoke, died at the scene.

The prosecution at Winchester Crown Court alleged that Hughes fell asleep at the wheel in the moments before the collision with the lorry because he had not slept enough over the previous days.

'Terribly sorry'

But Hughes, who had been on his way to Heathrow to catch a flight to Spain to see his girlfriend, said: "At no time in the journey was I tired. I did not fall asleep.

"I was not in a rush. I had left enough time. I was not feeling tired, certainly not too tired to drive. I was feeling excited because I had a few extra days' holiday."

Hughes, now based at the Institute of Naval Medicine in Gosport, Hampshire, was acquitted of causing the death by dangerous driving.

The Recorder of Winchester, Judge Keith Cutler, said the accident had been a "tragic consequence out of all proportion to what happened".

Hughes was fined £1,500 and his licence was endorsed with nine points.

The judge said he hoped Hughes would be able to continue his navy career and added that he did not want to disqualify him from driving.

Speaking outside court, Hughes said: "I am terribly sorry about the death of Mr Hopper. I am grateful for everyone who has supported me. I am relieved I can get back to my medical studies."

Mr Hopper's family left court without comment.