A VAN driver has been found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after reversing at speed into a retired academic in North Oxford.

Leigh Kuenhel, 47, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with causing serious injury to Dr Shirley Pike by dangerous driving on August 4, 2022.

The Ford Connect van driver was charged after knocking down the 90-year-old retired academic at the junction of Woodstock and Osberton roads after missing his turning.

READ MORE: Man accused of raping girl, 16, he met at an Oxford cocktail bar

Dr Pike was crossing the road behind Kuenhel when she was struck, requiring resuscitation before being rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Kuenhel, of Elizabeth Avenue, Newbury, denied the offence as well as one count of serious injury by careless driving which was an alternative charge for the jury to consider.

However, after a short two-day trial in which Kuenhel did not give evidence, the jury found him guilty of dangerous driving.

He will now be sentenced at the same court on May 24.

During the trial, it was heard that in the early evening, Kuenhel was travelling south on the Woodstock Road.

READ MORE: Man jailed for attempted knifepoint robbery

He had intended to turn into Obserton Road but realised he had missed his turning so had decided to stop and reverse so he could make the turn.

Meanwhile, Dr Pike had just got off the northbound 300 park-and-ride bus and was waiting to cross the road.

After Kuenhel had passed in his golden van, Dr Pike made the crossing and was struck by the van as it was reversing.

People passing by were quick to aid Dr Pike whose heart had stopped.

She also suffered from rib fractures, both her lungs were punctured, her skull was broken and she suffered from a liver injury.

She was taken to hospital and the court heard there were fears she would not survive. 

Kuenel had told officers it was an accident and he had checked his wing mirrors and saw ‘nothing’ of Dr Pike.

Giving his closing speech on Wednesday (April 24), defence barrister Peter Du Feu said: “The third unspoken count on the indictment is accident.”

READ MORE: Van driver on trial for 'reversing at speed' into academic, stopping her heart

Mr Du Feu also addressed the fact a forensic traffic collision report had not been financed for the court despite an investigator having attended the scene.

“That’s unfortunate,” he said.

“As you may think it would have been very helpful to see photographs, a reconstruction, measurements, timings, distance.”

It is unknown who and why the decision was made not to finance the report for the trial.

Kuenhel remains on bail until his sentencing.