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Van driver jailed for death crash Widow attacks A9 crash sentence
(about 1 hour later)
A driver who admitted causing the death of a four-year-old girl and her grandfather in a crash has been jailed for two years and four months. A woman who lost her husband and a granddaughter in a crash has attacked the sentence handed down to the driver who admitted causing their deaths.
Ian Shennan, 59, from Elgin, forced Paul Anderson to take evasive action on the A9 in the Highlands last July. Ian Shennan, 59, from Elgin, was jailed for two years and four months at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Mr Anderson, 48, and his family were on their way to the funeral of his niece, who had also died in a car accident. Paul Anderson, 48, of Lancashire, and Samantha Carr, four, died in the crash on the A9 in the Highlands last July.
Mr Anderson and his four-year-old grand-daughter Samantha Carr were killed in the crash. Outside court, Melanie Anderson said: "We just feel that the sentence does not fit the crime."
The judge, Lord Brodie, said he accepted Shennan had committed a "tragic error of judgement" while overtaking traffic before causing the crash that claimed the two lives.
Today was meant to be a new beginning Melanie Anderson
Lord Brodie added: "I accept this was not a case of aggressive driving."
But Mrs Anderson said she had expected a five year prison sentence.
She said: "Today was meant to be a new beginning and now we don't know how long it is going to take to put things behind us."
The widow also called for improvement to the A9 - a trunk road linking central Scotland with the Highlands.
Public and political campaigns have appealed for the route to be dual carriageway along the entire stretch from Perth to Inverness.
Mrs Anderson said: "They are going to have to do something about the A9 and not keep putting it off.
"How many people are going to have to die and how many times is the air ambulance going to have to go up?"
Younger sister
Shennan had earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving.Shennan had earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Lost control
Mr Anderson, an engineer from Colne, Lancashire, had been taking his family to the funeral of 27-year-old Vicky Pickering.Mr Anderson, an engineer from Colne, Lancashire, had been taking his family to the funeral of 27-year-old Vicky Pickering.
She had died in a crash on the M6 in Lancashire, also in July, while on her way to her home village, Gairloch, in the north west Highlands.She had died in a crash on the M6 in Lancashire, also in July, while on her way to her home village, Gairloch, in the north west Highlands.
Mr Anderson, who was towing a caravan, was travelling north with his wife and their grandchildren Samantha and Emma for the funeral.Mr Anderson, who was towing a caravan, was travelling north with his wife and their grandchildren Samantha and Emma for the funeral.
On the stretch of the A9 at Crubenmore, near Kingussie, he swerved to avoid a collision with Shennan who was attempting to overtake a line of traffic.On the stretch of the A9 at Crubenmore, near Kingussie, he swerved to avoid a collision with Shennan who was attempting to overtake a line of traffic.
Mr Anderson lost control of his vehicle as the caravan began to "snake" on the road and it overturned before being hit by another car.Mr Anderson lost control of his vehicle as the caravan began to "snake" on the road and it overturned before being hit by another car.
His wife and Samantha's younger sister Emma were injured in the smash.His wife and Samantha's younger sister Emma were injured in the smash.
Birthday surprise
The court had heard that Shennan was driving south to take used banknotes to Edinburgh and to pick up a new supply of cash for teller machines.The court had heard that Shennan was driving south to take used banknotes to Edinburgh and to pick up a new supply of cash for teller machines.
A slow moving car was at the front of a line of traffic and when they entered a short section of dual carriageway drivers, including Shennan, pulled out to overtake.A slow moving car was at the front of a line of traffic and when they entered a short section of dual carriageway drivers, including Shennan, pulled out to overtake.
A van pulling a caravan ahead of him completed the overtaking manoeuvre and Shennan then tried to overtake it.A van pulling a caravan ahead of him completed the overtaking manoeuvre and Shennan then tried to overtake it.
The court heard Shennan continued to overtake even after the end of the dual carriageway, travelling across the chevroned lines in the centre of the carriageway. Shennan continued to overtake even after the end of the dual carriageway, travelling across the chevroned lines in the centre of the carriageway.
Police officers investigating the crash said he was to blame for the crash even though there was no contact between his van and the Andersons' car.Police officers investigating the crash said he was to blame for the crash even though there was no contact between his van and the Andersons' car.
Miss Pickering had joined the Royal Navy after leaving Gairloch High School and worked at HMS Nelson Naval Base in Portsmouth.Miss Pickering had joined the Royal Navy after leaving Gairloch High School and worked at HMS Nelson Naval Base in Portsmouth.
She was killed along with her friend, Zoe West, while on their way to surprise her mother Glenys Pickering - Mr Anderson's sister - on her 50th birthday.She was killed along with her friend, Zoe West, while on their way to surprise her mother Glenys Pickering - Mr Anderson's sister - on her 50th birthday.