A company has been fined £30,000 after a car enthusiast died when his Mazda fell down a ridge and rolled over on a remote race track.
Joshua Pillinger, 24, suffered serious injuries when his car left the track – which was a converted access point for feeding animals – near Ceredigion, west Wales.
The court heard while going around a bend on the track he lost control and attempted to correct the manoeuvre but was unable to do so as the track left racers ‘little chance of correcting a mistake’.
The vehicle fell down a ridge adjacent to the track and rolled over before coming to a rest.
Swansea Crown Court heard it was ‘immediately apparent’ that Mr Pillinger had suffered significant injuries, which proved to be fatal, but no first aid was provided.
The company responsible for the site, Mid Wales Activity Limited, has been fined £30,000 for breaching health and safety regulations and failing to ensure the safety of Mr Pillinger while using the track.
Josh Pillinger, 24, and his girlfriend Emily Dean. Mr Pillinger died after suffering serious injuries when his car left the track – which was a converted access point for feeding animals – near Ceredigion, west Wales
Accident investigator Aled Thomas said the elevations of the track left drivers with little chance of recovery if they made a mistake.
Mr Pillinger had visited the track as a member of a group of Bristol-based car enthusiasts Pum Racing on June 3, 2018.
Prosecutor Craig Jones said members were told by Mid Wales Activity director Martyn John Jones some potholes on the track had recently been filled in with tarmac which they would find ‘dotted around the course’ and would need to be avoided.
They were also informed it would cost £600 for 20 drivers to use the track and for camping, which was provided on their arrival, but they did not get a receipt in return.
Flags, high-visibility jackets, and fire extinguishers were spotted within the area by members but they were told it would cost them more to use them.
Mr Pillinger drove his own Mazda MX5 vehicle around the track slowly as he was not familiar with it, the court heard, and after carrying out a few laps chose to change his tyres as he felt they would offer more grip.
Mr Pillinger had visited the track as a member of a group of Bristol-based car enthusiasts Pum Racing
The company responsible for the site, Mid Wales Activity Limited, has been fined £30,000 for breaching health and safety regulations. Pictured is the race track used for rallies, quad bikes and extreme sports
Mr Pillinger, from Bristol, carried out timed laps of the circuit with a woman named Kashelle Mathias also in the vehicle.
The court heard while going around a bend on the track he lost control and attempted to correct the manoeuvre but was unable to do so.
On June 4, Ceredigion council, which brought the prosecution in the case, was notified of the incident but the court heard the authority was unaware of the existence of a track at the farm.
A police investigation found the track was 2.7m wide from verge to verge and there was no signage to alert motorists of any undulation or deviation of the track, nor were there signs to indicate areas where there should be a speed limit.
A ‘skid test’ would usually be carried out in such investigations but it was considered too dangerous to do so on the track, the court heard.
In a police interview on December 5, 2018, company director Mr Jones said the track was originally constructed in 1980 and was originally to access an area to feed sheep and cattle.
Mr Pillinger and members were told by Mid Wales Activity director Martyn John Jones some potholes on the track had recently been filled in with tarmac which they would find ‘dotted around the course’ and would need to be avoided
In 2000, he explained a decision was made ‘to diversify’ and he would run four track events a month, charging £600 each time, to ‘put jam on the bread.’
He told officers he had spoken to Mr Pillinger’s group and informed them the track was demanding but thought they would ‘only be sussing it out’.
He added that had he known they were going to compete he would have looked at safety procedures such as caging and paramedics.
Sentencing the company, Judge Keith Thomas said: ‘There was a failure by the company to address any risks created by any areas of the track sloping, limit the speed in certain areas, or install barriers.
‘There was no attempt to gauge the level of skill and there were no plans in place to deal with an accident.
‘I accept the state of the track did not contribute to the accident, but those who manage such facilities have a duty to reduce the risks to those using it.
‘This is about the failure of the company to manage and limit risk.’
Mid Wales Activity Limited was fined £30,000.
In a statement issued through police following his death Mr Pillinger’s family said: ‘If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Josh, I’m sure you will never forget him.
‘He was one of those people who had such a positive impact on the lives of everyone fortunate enough to meet him.
‘We miss him and the way he used to make us all laugh so much, every single day.’
Craig Jones, prosecuting, said: ‘Martyn John Jones, a director of the company, had agreed to hire the unlicensed track to Pum Racing, a group of off-road racers from Bristol, and charged them £600.
‘A member of the group had asked him about fire extinguishers, but was told that they would cost more to hire even if they were not used.
‘The director warned the member that he had filled in some potholes using tarmac and drivers should avoid the repairs.’
Mid Wales Activity Limited admitted charges under the Health and Safety at work act.