A pensioner was mowed down and killed by a mother after she drove over the victim while pulling out on a busy city road in Nottingham. The 86-year-old pedestrian, Maureen Sanderson, was wearing what her family said was her “favourite pink coat” and waving to thank Tracie Spowage for allowing her to walk in front of her white Nissan Juke, showed the video played at Nottingham Crown Court.
However, after a few seconds, the 58-year-old driver, of Basford, pulled forward, knocking Mrs Sanderson to the ground and then running her over. Phil Cowburn, prosecuting, said the incident took place at the exit to the car park of the Iceland store, in Nuthall Road, Cinderhill, at 2.06pm on Monday, October 13, last year. reports Nottingham Post.
The accused driver has been handed a 10-month prison sentence suspended for a year. Judge Steven Coupland said: “Maureen Sanderson was described as a woman with a zest for life and with more life to live.
“She was in your sight for a considerable amount of time, and she was there to be seen before you pulled out. You are here because you did not see her.
“You said you had driven carefully and described this as an accident. You did say in your interview you felt awful for her family.
“You did not set out that day to harm or hurt anybody, you were sober, you were not distracted by, for example, your mobile phone, but you are here because you were not looking properly.”
Maureen reportedly suffered a deep skull fracture and died two days after being admitted to the hospital, the prosecutor Mr Cowburn told the court.
Mr Cowburn said: “Maureen was conveyed to the QMC (Queen’s Medical Centre) where she was pronounced deceased two days later. A post-mortem report revealed the injuries were predominantly to the right side of the body and she suffered a deep skull fracture.
“This defendant was interviewed, and she described her driving as very careful, but did accept she would not have been looking at pedestrians because she was looking at the road to pull out. She said she had not noticed Mrs Sanderson passing in front of her car.”
Her family described the mother and grandmother as “a strong lady with a zest for life” who will be missed immensely.