Woman tells of 999 crash horror

Mr Robertson was driving to an emergency call

A woman has told how she saw a fire engine collide with a car, killing the driver, only yards ahead of her.

Joyce Garnett was waiting at traffic lights when she saw the truck drive through a red light on its way to a 999 call in Greater Manchester last year.

It collided with the red Ford Escort, killing driver Philip Yates, Manchester Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Firefighter Ian Robertson, 44, of Bolton, denies causing death by dangerous driving on the A57 in Eccles.

I must admit I was horrified because I could almost see what was going to happen Joyce Garnett

Mr Robertson, from Kearsley, was driving at speeds of up to 50mph responding to reports of a blaze at an old people's home when the collision occurred, the court was told.

At the time of the accident he was leading a two-engine convoy from Eccles fire station when the crash took place at about 1206 GMT on 26 January last year.

Father-of-two Mr Yates, 39, was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.

As the two fire engines rushed along Liverpool Road towards the Astley Court care home in Irlam, the traffic lights ahead of them changed from green to red.

Philip Yates died in Salford's Hope Hospital

Mr Yates' car was at the front of a line of traffic waiting to turn right on to Liverpool Road.

Mrs Garnett told the jury how she and husband Norman had stopped immediately behind Mr Yates' car at the lights and saw the fire engines approaching with their lights and sirens activated.

She said: "The fire engines approached the lights and obviously because there were cars in front of them they slowed down.

"When the lights changed to green in our favour the red car in front of me didn't move immediately.

"It seemed to me the red car was waiting for the fire engine to go through the lights.

Central reservation

"The car, after the hesitation, began to draw away and cross the road moving quite slowly.

"I must admit I was horrified because I could almost see what was going to happen.

"The fire appliance hit the car on the side of the driver's door, pushing the car towards the central reservation."

Mrs Garnett, who has been driving for about 39 years, estimated that the fire engine was travelling at around 30mph when it struck the car.

The trial continues.