AN ELDERLY Dingwall woman has today (Thurs) been banned for four years and fined £1,000 for causing the death of a pedestrian by knocking her down in a town centre car park.
Dingwall Sheriff Court heard that Paula Grant (77) said: "I’ve killed her. It’s my fault." after she struck mother-of-two Jean Bridgeford in her Land Rover Freelander.
Mrs Bridgeford of Portmahomack died from spinal, chest and brain injuries at the scene of the tragedy in Dingwall’s Cromartie Car Park after she became trapped underneath Grant’s car on August 1 last year.
Grant, of Mount Gerald House, Old Evanton Road, was sentenced today at Dingwall Sheriff Court today by Sheriff John Halley after earlier admitting, on indictment, a charge of causing death by careless driving.
In passing sentence, Sheriff John Halley said it was a "difficult, sensitive and tragic case".
Depute fiscal Stewart Maciver told the court that Mrs Bridgeford, who worked for the Highland Council in Tulloch Street’s Old Library, had told colleagues she was going shopping during her lunch break.
He said: "It was while she walking to her own car she was struck by Grant’s Land Rover Freelander."
Mr Maciver described how Grant, a first offender, had made a phone call on her mobile phone but the call had ended before the accident happened.
The fiscal said Grant was driving at an appropriate speed and in the proper direction but failed to notice the presence of Mrs Bridgeford in front of her.
He said on impact Mrs Bridgeford was seen by a witness falling to her knees.
"But the vehicle moved further forward trapping her under the vehicle," he added.
The witness said she saw Grant get out of her vehicle an attempting to dial 999 on her mobile phone.
The fiscal said she was heard to say: "I’ve killed her. It’s my fault."
Mr Maciver said the Fire Brigade and an ambulance were summoned but there were no signs of life.
A post mortem showed Mrs Bridgeford died from severe spinal and chest injuries and liver and brain damage.
He said the weather was overcast but dry and Mrs Bridgeford was wearing bright clothing.
Solicitor David Hingston, for Grant, told the court his client was looking for a parking space in the Cromartie Car Park before attending an appointment.
Mr Hingston said it was a car park he did not use himself because there was a central column which obstructs the vision of drivers.
"Grant fully accepts if she had been facing forward instead of to the right she would have been able to take evasive action," Mr Hingston told the Sheriff.
"She goes over and over events in her head. The scenario of if she had only been a minute later or earlier was frequently in her thoughts.
"The topmost in her mind however is the knowledge of the consequences of this accident and the devastating loss it has caused to Mrs Bridgeford’s family."
Mr Hingston said he could not explain why neither Mrs Bridgeford nor Mrs Grant saw each other.
"It’s devastating for everyone. There are no winners in this case - just losers," he added.
Grant had admitted causing the death of Mrs Bridgeford of Petley Farm by driving without due care and attention, failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to pay attention to the road ahead and the presence of pedestrians, causing her vehicle to collide with the pedestrian, knocking her to the ground and trapping her underneath the vehicle.
Sentencing, Sheriff Halley said he had listened very carefully to what had been said.
He told Grant: "You have pled guilty to causing the death of another person by driving without due care and attention and as a result of your driving Mrs Bridgeford was fatally injured."
Sheriff Halley said it was a "difficult, sensitive and tragic case" but Grant had accepted responsibility for the offence and in consideration of disposal he had to take into account her personal circumstances and the impact on Mrs Bridgeford’s family.
He noted it was the first time Grant had ever been before a court and she had never had any previous driving offences.
He also noted that she was also caring for her frail elderly husband.
The Sheriff said he would impose a financial penalty of a £1,000 and a four-year driving ban which would have been six years but for the early plea.
