A lottery winner killed a pensioner in a Christmas Day car crash after taking his eyes off the road to find his two-year-old son’s teddy bear, a court has heard.
Matthew Topham, 31, reported to be Britain’s youngest EuroMillions jackpot winner after pocketing £45 million in 2012, had been visiting his wife’s family before the collision at 5.50pm on December 25 2019.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Topham took his eyes off the road for ‘up to three seconds’ before crashing his BMW into a Ford Fiesta driven by 78-year-old Rodney Regler on Louth Road in North Cockerington, Lincolnshire.
As a result of the crash, Mr Regler’s wife, 75-year-old Mary Jane Regler, died from severe chest injuries.
Matthew Topham, believed to be Britain’s youngest EuroMillions jackpot winner after pocketing £45 million in 2012, pictured celebrating win with girlfriend Cassey Carrington
Mr Regler provided a statement to the court in which he said he shouted ‘Christ’s sake, he’s on my side of the road’ just before the crash, adding: ‘Then I was hit, then it went quiet.’
Jurors were told the defendant admitted causing death by careless driving, but has denied his driving was dangerous.
The prosecution said Topham had reached into the back of his car to find his ‘upset’ son’s teddy bear, but looked round after being unable to locate it.
He collided with Mr and Mrs Regler’s Ford Fiesta as the couple made their way home from Christmas dinner at their son’s house.
Opening the case against Topham on Monday, prosecutor Michael Cranwell-Brown said: ‘He had just left Rushmoor Country Park where he had been visiting his wife’s parents.
Lottery winner Matt Topham is pictured leaving at Lincoln Crown Court (centre) today
75-year-old Mary Jane Regler (pictured) died from severe chest injuries as a result of the crash
‘It is accepted that the collision was entirely the fault of this defendant.
‘For up to three seconds before the collision, he did not have his eyes on the road.
‘As a consequence of not looking where he was going, his car crossed over into the opposite carriageway and collided with the Ford Fiesta, killing Mrs Regler and leaving Mr Regler with serious injuries.’
Mr Cranwell-Brown continued: ‘It would be obvious to the careful and competent driver that driving in the way that the defendant did was dangerous.
‘The defendant accepts that he is guilty of driving without due care and attention.
‘His attention was diverted from the road as he was looking behind him to retrieve his two-year-old son’s teddy bear.
‘The defendant gave this account to officers at the scene.
‘Significantly, the prosecution says, in that interview, he said it was out of character to do what he did.’
The court heard Topham had been coming up to a minor bend before veering over onto the other side of the road.
The prosecution said Topham had reached into the back of his car to find his ‘upset’ son’s teddy bear, but looked round after being unable to locate it. Pictured celebrating lottery win in 2012
Mr Cranwell-Brown said: ‘When he could not find that teddy, he actually looked back to the footwell to try and find the teddy.
‘Once he found it he passed it to his son and turned his attention to the road.
‘The driver described how he attempted to take evasive action but it was all to no avail and the two cars collided.’
Concluding his opening, Mr Cranwell-Brown said: ‘The prosecution say that it is irrelevant that the cause of not looking where he was going was that his son was upset.
‘The prosecution say it would have been obvious to a careful driver that they must keep their eyes on the road at all times.
‘He knew that it would not be safe driving along a road and not looking where he was going. He could not just plough on.’
In his statement to the court, Mr Regler said he told his wife to ‘hang on love, someone will be here soon’, and described Mrs Regler as ‘quiet’.
He said: ‘It’s as simple as this, the other car was on my side of the road.
‘My wife has gone and my life has changed forever. I have no interest in driving now.’
Topham, of Swinderby, Lincolnshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.