A TAXI driver who had been working a 14 hour shift was driving carelessly when he hit and killed a teenager on the way home from celebrating his 18th birthday, a court heard.
Gary Glymond was on the way home from a night out with friends marking his milestone birthday and Barnsley FC's victory against Chelsea when he was struck by the private hire car being driven by Lee Sewell, Barnsley magistrates heard.
He was throw
n over the bonnet of the Vauxhall Vectra onto the roof, before falling into the road just yards from his home in Huddersfield Road, Barnsley.
The former Dalton High School pupil suffered multiple injuries to his head, face and leg and was pronounced dead at Barnsley District General Hospital, following the crash near a traffic light junction in the early hours of March 9 last year.
Sewell, aged 26 of Overdale Avenue, Worsbrough, denies driving without due care and attention.
At the time of the crash at around 3am he had been working since 1.15pm the previous afternoon.
In a statement read at court the Barnsley College student's friend Liam Collins described how happy Gary had been that night. He said he had told him: "I can't believe Barnsley have won on my birthday."
Another pal, Steven Parsons, said he met Gary at Funny Girls nightclub in the town centre where they shared a celebratory drink.
Later, on his way home, he came across Gary again when he said he "was so drunk he didn't recognise me".
Mr Parsons left him near an alleyway next to a chemist in Huddersfield Road.
The court heard Lee Sewell had told police he had been driving at between 40 and 45mph in a 30mph zone on the approach to the traffic lights.
He said he had not seen Gary until the point of collision.
He told them: "I have gone through the traffic lights - they were on green - then a pedestrian stepped out on to the road and there was nothing I could have done."
But John Kavanagh, prosecuting, said: "This accident would not have occurred if Mr Sewell had been exercising proper care.
"It is difficult to see how he has not seen him on the approach."
The trial continues.
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