A417 Oxford crash: Shocking moment white van man smashes into 78-year-old driver in fatal collision

This is the shocking moment a 78-year-old driver was killed in a head on collision with a white van man who was overtaking on the brow of a hill. 

Dashcam footage shows how driver Aron Hicks, 28, smashed into Brian Hunt near an Oxfordshire village before the pensioner died shortly afterwards in hospital. 

The white van, which may have been going over the 50mph speed limit, is seen overtaking one car on the A417 near Cholsey before trying to pass a second. 

It then is filmed pulling onto the opposite side of the road while approaching the crest of a hill. 

Hicks who was behind the wheel of his van on the way to work as a painter and decorator then hit Brian’s Honda Civic head on, prosecutor Andrew Jordan told Oxford Crown Court. 

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for three years and four months. 

This is the shocking moment an OAP was killed in a head on collision with a white van man who was overtaking and ‘showing off’

Aron Hicks (pictured), 28, was overtaking ‘for no reason’ when he smashed into Brian Hunt, 78, who died shortly afterwards

He was unable to see Mr Hunt’s Honda Civic until too late, hitting it head-on, the court heard. 

Hicks suggested to his probation officer, who wrote a pre-sentence report, that he was ‘showing off’, the court heard. And the jury was also told he was alone in his van so it was unclear why. 

The court also heard that there was no reason for Hicks to make a dangerous manoeuvre on his way to work as he was in no rush.

Hicks was also banned from the roads for three years and eight months and must pass an extended retest.

Judge Ian Pringle QC told the driver: ‘Mr Hunt received devastating injuries which despite the efforts of the hospital he could not be saved and he died shortly afterwards. His death is your responsibility.’

Here you can see the white van ploughing into Brian Hunt’s car

Debris is seen coming out of the crashed vehicles on the A417 near Cholsey

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The white van is then seen flipped over on the side of the road 

Brian’s widow Susan Hunt, who had been married to victim Brian for 54 years, said in a victim statement: ‘Words cannot express the pain and anguish that family, our friends and I have endured since the death of my husband Brian.

‘He did not deserve to die in this way. Aron Hicks took my husband’s life. He will never understand the effect he’s had on our family. It is unimaginable and unpardonable.’

Brian’s son Stuart said in his statement that it felt as if the ‘heart of the family has been literally ripped out’.

His brother, Stephen, said directly to his father’s killer: ‘You took my dad away from not just me that day, but my whole family and our friends far too early. He had a life to live.’

In his own letter to his victim’s family, Hicks said: ‘I know that no amount of apologies or condolences can make this situation any better for you all.

‘I can only begin to imagine the depth of your shock and grief. Knowing that my actions have caused this pain will be my life’s biggest regret.’