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'Sleeping' killer driver jailed | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who killed a mechanic as he helped a motorist has been jailed for two years. | A woman who killed a mechanic as he helped a motorist has been jailed for two years. |
Terry Booth, 58, of Ferndown, Dorset, died when his truck was struck by a car driven by Susan Lowe, 62, on the A31 at Poulner Hill, Hampshire, in June 2008. | Terry Booth, 58, of Ferndown, Dorset, died when his truck was struck by a car driven by Susan Lowe, 62, on the A31 at Poulner Hill, Hampshire, in June 2008. |
Lowe, of West Yorkshire, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. The court heard she was "unconscious at the wheel". | Lowe, of West Yorkshire, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. The court heard she was "unconscious at the wheel". |
Lowe was given a four-year driving ban, after which she can re-sit her test. | Lowe was given a four-year driving ban, after which she can re-sit her test. |
Sentencing her at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, Judge Christopher Leigh QC said: "I don't believe that when you set out you realised that you were as tired as you obviously were." | Sentencing her at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, Judge Christopher Leigh QC said: "I don't believe that when you set out you realised that you were as tired as you obviously were." |
Judge Leigh QC said he was sentencing her on the basis that she had fallen asleep at the wheel. | Judge Leigh QC said he was sentencing her on the basis that she had fallen asleep at the wheel. |
Lowe's trial had heard Mr Booth was working on a Peugeot 309 when the crash happened on 12 June, 2008, at about 2300 BST. | Lowe's trial had heard Mr Booth was working on a Peugeot 309 when the crash happened on 12 June, 2008, at about 2300 BST. |
Mechanic Terry Booth was killed instantly | Mechanic Terry Booth was killed instantly |
Lowe, of Gypsy Mead in Leeds, who was driving home to Yorkshire from Bournemouth on the day of the accident, had been awake for more than 16 hours. | |
Her Chrysler car ploughed into the broken-down car. | Her Chrysler car ploughed into the broken-down car. |
The jury heard all evidence indicated Lowe did not apply her brakes and had fallen asleep. | The jury heard all evidence indicated Lowe did not apply her brakes and had fallen asleep. |
Her defence argued she was "blinded" by the lights from the recovery truck, but a jury reached a majority guilty verdict on 1 September. | Her defence argued she was "blinded" by the lights from the recovery truck, but a jury reached a majority guilty verdict on 1 September. |
Sgt Mal Rigby, from Hampshire police, said: "I am very pleased with that sentence. | Sgt Mal Rigby, from Hampshire police, said: "I am very pleased with that sentence. |
"It sends out the message if you are feeling tired or fatigued then you should not get behind the wheel and drive." | "It sends out the message if you are feeling tired or fatigued then you should not get behind the wheel and drive." |
He added that Mr Booth's relatives were also "satisfied with the sentence". | He added that Mr Booth's relatives were also "satisfied with the sentence". |
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