A father caused the death of his wife and teenage son by carelessly driving too fast in torrential rain, it is alleged.
The tragedy happened when Rashminder Singh Gill allegedly lost control on the A50 between Groby and Markfield, in Bradgate Hill – just 500 metres from the family home.
Gill’s Mercedes C250 was allegedly seen to zig-zag on the unlit county-bound side of the dual carriageway, before veering across the central reservation on to the opposite side.
It collided with an oncoming Audi, with a pregnant woman passenger inside.
She was seriously injured and lost her unborn child, due to be born the following week.
Gill (41), of Forest Edge, Bradgate Hill, denies causing the death of his wife, Amrit Gill, and 14-year-old son, Taran, by careless driving on the evening of January 29 last year.
Gregor Purcell, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: “The defendant drove at a speed excessive to the road and weather conditions that night, driving through an area of running water. It travelled onto the opposite carriageway and resulted in a fatal collision.”
It happened at 9pm on a 50mph stretch, which has since been reduced to 40mph, the court was told.
Mr Gill - whose daughter was injured but survived the collision - was driving his family home after a meal at Pizza Hut, Fosse Park.
Mr Purcell told the jury that, at the scene, Gill allegedly said he lost control of his car due to heavy rain and his passenger grabbed his arm, or steering wheel, when he started to skid.
The prosecution allege other road users had negotiated the same stretch by adjusting their speed in the heavy rain.
