Hugh Campion, 71, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to a fatal collision that occurred on May 31, 2022, in Wiltshire, England. The incident involved his red Toyota Prius colliding with three Vespa scooters carrying six people; Robert Best (62), Marie Jones (64), and Timothy Davies (62) died as a result of the crash. Campion faces charges including causing death by dangerous driving and will stand trial starting June 1, 2027. The victims were members of a scooter club planning a trip to Normandy, France; Robert Best died at the scene while Marie Jones and Timothy Davies passed away in hospital.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
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Story summary
On May 31, 2023, a collision occurred on the A36 at Knook in Wiltshire involving a red Toyota Prius driven by 71-year-old Hugh Campion and three Vespa scooters. The crash resulted in the deaths of Robert Best (62), Marie Jones (64), and Timothy Davies (62), with Marie's husband Gary Jones sustaining serious injuries. During a hearing at Salisbury Crown Court, Campion pleaded not guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and another three for causing death by careless driving. He also denied charges related to the injury caused to Gary Jones. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027, with a pre-trial review set for April 30.
Written for “Toyota Prius Crash Trial” on 2026-09-17,
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A driver has denied causing the deaths of three Vespa scooter riders on a country road by dangerous driving.
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driver → see → driving
Hugh Campion, 71, has pleaded not guilty to eight charges relating to a collision on the A36 at Knook in Wiltshire on May 31 last year.
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Campion → plead → May
Campion's red Toyota Prius allegedly collided with three Vespa scooters travelling in the opposite direction.
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Prius → collide → direction
Victims Robert Best, 62, died on the road while Marie Jones, 64, and Timothy Davies, 62, died in hospital.
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Jones → die → hospital
Campion, of Upton Scudamore in Wiltshire, pleaded not guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and denied three further charges of causing death by careless driving during a hearing at Salisbury Crown Court.
He also pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury to Gary Jones, Mrs Jones's husband, by dangerous driving and the alternative of causing injury by careless driving.
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He → plead → driving
Judge Rufus Taylor said the defendant would face a trial lasting up to 10 days, which is due to commence on June 1, 2027.
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which → say → June
A pre-trial review will take place on April 30.
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review → take → April
Campion was released on unconditional bail.
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Campion → release → bail
Hugh Campion has pleaded not guilty to eight charges relating to a collision in Wiltshire last year (Pictured: Campion outside Salisbury Law Courts)
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Campion → plead → Courts
Campion's red Toyota Prius allegedly collided with three Vespa mopeds travelling in the opposite direction (Pictured: the site of the collision)
Robert Best died at the scene of the crash
Grandmother Marie Jones died in hospital after the crash while her husband Gary Jones suffered broken bones
The three victims of the crash were members of Yate and Sodbury scooter club – based in South Gloucestershire – and had been beginning a trip to Normandy, France.
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victims → collide → Normandy
Andy Davis, co-founder of the scooter club, said the trio were 'big parts of the club' and 'all people we knew from growing up, from school days'.
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we → say → days
Mr Best and Mr Davies were riding their bikes while Mrs Jones, whose husband suffered 'a few broken bones' but was recovering, had been a pillion rider on another.
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husband → rid → another
There were five scooters and eight riders on the trip, with the survivors 'traumatised from what they've seen' according to Mr Davis.
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they → be → Davis
An appeal in the victims' memory raised more than £25,000 for three air ambulance charities.
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appeal → raise → charities
Mr Best's family said he was 'loved and adored by all who knew him' and had 'dedicated his life to being a good husband, father, son, brother and friend'.
'
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who → say → life
He leaves behind his extensive family and friends, all of whom are devastated by his loss.'
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all → leave → loss
Mrs Jones's family said the 'cherished' grandmother had passed away in hospital 'surrounded by the love' of her relatives.
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grandmother → say → relatives
The scooter club said of Mr Davies: 'Our dear friend, you had a way of making us laugh even on the darkest days, your warmth, humour, and spirit will be deeply missed.'
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warmth → say → days
A statement added: 'Our club is more than just a group of scooter enthusiasts – we are a close-knit family bound by friendship, shared passions, and the joy of the open road.
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we → add → road
The individuals we have lost were not only valued members of our club, but dear friends whose presence, laughter, and kindness will be deeply missed by all of us.
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presence → lose → us
This loss has shaken us all, but we will continue to stand together — as a community, and as a family.
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we → shake → family
Mr Davis co-founded the scooter club with his brother-in-law Kevin Milford in 2017 and said the three who died had been members 'pretty much from the beginning'.
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who → co → beginning
After the riders' deaths, the club cancelled its summer festival and began a fundraising bid for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Great Western Air Ambulance.
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club → cancel → Ambulance
The Aporia
