A driver has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving after three motorbike riders died.
Hugh Campion, 70, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court after the crash on the A36 at Knook, Wiltshire, on May 31 last year.
Campion’s red Toyota Prius allegedly collided with three Vespa motorbikes travelling in the opposite direction.
Robert Best, 62, died on the road while Marie Jones, 64, and Timothy Davies, 62, died in hospital.
Campion, of Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire, is also accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Gary Jones, Mrs Jones’s husband.
The defendant spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a brief hearing before magistrates.
He did not enter a plea to any of the four counts he was charged with and magistrates sent the case to Salisbury Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on September 16.
Campion was released on unconditional bail.
Robert Best died at the scene of the crash, which killed two other members of his South Gloucestershire scooter club
Grandmother Marie Jones died in hospital after the crash while her husband Gary 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.
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’.
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.
There were five motorbikes and eight riders on the trip, with the survivors ‘traumatised from what they’ve seen’ according to Mr Davis.
An appeal in the victims’ memory raised more than £25,000 for three air ambulance 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’.
‘He leaves behind his extensive family and friends, all of whom are devastated by his loss.’
Mrs Jones’s family said the ‘cherished’ grandmother had passed away in hospital ‘surrounded by the love’ of her 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.’
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.
‘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.
‘This loss has shaken us all, but we will continue to stand together — as a community, and as a family.
‘Ride in peace, our brothers and sister.’
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’.
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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