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Tired Oulton driver in death crash jailed for two years
An Oulton woman who fell asleep at the wheel, has been jailed for two years after killing a recovery truck driver.
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Susan Lowe, 62, dozed off on her way home from a keyboard music convention in Bournemouth, Dorset on June 12, last year.
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She mounted the verge in her 3.5litre Chrysler Voyager at up to 50mph and smashed into a broken down Peugeot that RAC man Terry Booth was trying to repair.
Lowe had been awake for 17 hours at the time of the crash and was heading back to Leeds.
The widow was convicted at Southampton Crown Court, of causing death by dangerous driving, after she fell asleep at the wheel.
Mr Booth, 58, a roadside assistance worker for the RAC, of Ferndown, died from multiple injuries at the scene of the crash on the east bound section of the A31 at Poulner, near Ringwood.
He was understood to have been standing between the Peugeot and his recovery truck.
The widow, of Gypsy Mead, Oulton, Leeds, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years. Throughout the sentencing hearing, she sat with her head down in the dock at Southampton Crown Court and heard Judge Christopher Leigh QC say he accepted the prosecution's account she had fallen asleep.
But she had earlier insisted during her trial that she was "not asleep" at the wheel when she ploughed into the truck.
Jurors heard Lowe had almost 600 metres visibility and Mr Booth had done everything he could to ensure approaching drivers were aware of the vehicle.
The judge told Lowe, who was also banned from driving for four years: "I don't think that when you set out, you realised you were as tired as you were."
In mitigation, Charles Gabb said she had driven for 40 years, sometimes more than 40,000 miles a year, without previous blemish.
After the hearing, Sgt Mal Rigby, the senior officer in the case, said her conviction was a warning of the danger of driving while tired.
He said: "Our thoughts are with Terry Booth's family and loved ones at this time.
"Susan Lowe's conviction for death by dangerous driving is a warning to others of the risks of getting behind the wheel if you're feeling tired.
"The crash happened while she was using a relatively busy route late at night. Her lack of sleep compounded the effect these conditions had on her driving.
"Consequently, Lowe will have to live with the knowledge that she is responsible for Terry Booth's death for the rest of her life.
"She may not have known she was tired, but, sadly, we believe this incident could have been avoided."
Following the verdict, Mr Booth's partner, who did not wish to be named, said: "I just want people to know Terry was a genuine, lovely person who tragically died doing the job he loved, helping people."
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Friday 18 May 2012
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