'I didn't take a reckless gamble': Driver accused of killing family by forcing vehicle off road insists he only tried to overtake two cars when it was safe

• Gordon Dyche, 24, denies causing deaths by dangerous or careless driving
  
• Emyr Griffith, Phyllis Hooper, and Peter Briscome and Liam Govier, both 14 all died in crash in North Wales last year
  
• It happened after Denise Griffith was hit from behind by Ford Mondeo while turning into lay-by
• Her seven-seat Peugeot rolled several times down a bank and into a reservoir
• She manage to escape after 'the Lord did come and help me to get out'
• Dyche, of Llanbrynmair, mid Wales, allegedly said at the scene: 'I’m really sorry. I was rushing for work'
• Mrs Griffith, 56, said: 'I know my life has been ruined. It's the most lonely, lonely place to be'

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 11:55 EST, 29 August 2012 | Updated: 13:38 EST, 29 August 2012

A man accused of causing a crash in which four members of a family drowned in a reservoir today disputed that he took a 'reckless gamble'.

Gordon Dyche, 24, a garage attendant, rejected the prosecution suggestion and insisted he only tried to overtake two cars when it was safe.

He told a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court in North Wales: 'I don't think it was below the standard of driving at all.'

He denies causing the deaths by dangerous or careless driving of Emyr Griffith, 66, Phyllis Hooper, 84, and Peter Briscome and Liam Govier, both 14 and who had autism.

The family from Pontypridd died when their people carrier plunged into Llyn Clywedog near Llanidloes, mid Wales, on April 20, last year. Only the driver, Denise Griffith, 56, and a family dog, escaped.

Dyche, a married father, described how he had left home for work, in a Ford Mondeo, between 2.10pm and 2.15pm that afternoon. He was driving eight miles to Llanidloes to start work at 2.30pm.

He told his lawyer Geraint Jones that he came up behind a VW Passat car and the people carrier ahead of it. They were travelling at about 40mph and he followed them for between a mile and a mile-and-a-half.

He began to overtake the VW car but the Peugeot 807 people carrier then began to turn right across his path towards a lay-by and he struck the back. The Peugeot plunged into the water at a beauty spot.

Dyche told the jury: 'It felt like the end of the world. I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do.'

Mr Mills said: 'You are blaming Mrs Griffith, aren't you?'

To which Dyche replied: 'That's not what I am saying at all. I am not blaming anyone. It was a tragic accident. I know exactly how I performed my manoeuvre and I checked things were safe.

'There was no sign of indicating at the time I started to perform the manoeuvre. There may well have been afterwards but I didn't honestly see it.'

He added: 'Whether there was an indicator or not, another car should have made its correct checks and seen me in the mirror and therefore not performed the manoeuvre.'

Mr Mills then asked: 'You are still saying what you did was safe, not even slightly below the standard required?'

Dyche replied: 'I don't think it was below the standard of driving at all.'

Asked why he had said at the scene he was late for work and rushing, Dyche claimed he had panicked. Mr Mills suggested he had tried to 'weasel' his way out of blame.

Dyche insisted: 'I'm an honest man.'

Mrs Griffith's driving had been described by another motorist as 'exemplary'. She's told the jury: 'My life has been ruined.'

The trial continues.

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