Brenda Joyce was a pedestrian when a Vauxhall Corsa driven by 96-year-old June Millls mounted the pavement and struck her. She sustained a head injury and died of her injuries
A 96-year-old woman has avoided jail after becoming the oldest woman in the UK to be convicted death by dangerous driving.
June Mills told the court she "panicked" and mounted the curb in her Vauxhall Cora, hitting two people on the pavement and a stationary Jaguar, before rolling to a stop. The elderly woman, who is too frail to walk more than a few paces, admitted in court that her driving was "far below standard" when she hit Brenda Joyce, who died after she sustained a serious head injury.
Ms Joyce, 76, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics, with another woman, aged 80, suffering minor injuries following the crash in Formby, Merseyside on August 2, last year. Today she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and was given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Judge Simon Medland told the elderly defendant that as a result of her age and health issues "it would not profit anybody.. or be a just outcome" to send her to prison. He also ordered her to pay a fine of £1,500 and court costs of £500 as he described the case as "utterly tragic".
The court heard that Ms Joyce had died of multiple blunt force trauma after smashing her head on the windscreen of Mills’ car, before her body was dragged underneath the chassis. Her friend, Jennifer Ensor, was also injured in the crash in Formby, Merseyside but survived. The court had previously heard Mills accidentally applied too much accelerator when she caused the accident. She pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
In a victim impact, Mrs Ensor told the court "the moment of being struck from behind by a car... thrown in the air and then learning it had also run over and killed my friend will live with me forever."
Defending Mills, Tom Gent, argued that she was of previous good character and that she would be unfit to carry out unpaid work. He added that her mobility had worsened since the collision, and accepted that she was driving "far below standard" when the crash took place. He said: “The accelerator pedal fell down beneath her foot, she panicked and failed to react to that. She accepts by her plea that was driving that was far below standard.”
He said today: "She is devastated to have caused someone’s death.. she is now reluctant to leave her home and is greatly ashamed that she appears before a criminal court. There is genuine and significant remorse."