Driver jailed over crash which killed mother and injured daughter
A man who was driving when a 'tragic and devastating' collision saw a mother killed and her daughter seriously injured has been sent to prison for two years.
A court heard Terry Lowe's vision had been impaired by the glare of the sun and he had not seen the victims.
Ann Walton, aged 79, had been out with her daughter Susan, 59, and their dog on Jones Lane in Great Wyrley, when they were hit by a Ford Focus driven by Terry Lowe, 32.
Ann, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by her daughter, died as a result of the impact, while her daughter, who was 57 at the time, has been left unable to care for herself and now suffers from epileptic fits as well as short-term memory loss and feelings of fear.
Stafford Crown Court heard how the pair would often go out along the route to keep active, however the tragedy on July 30 last year occurred when Lowe, from Ivy Close, Cannock, failed to see them walking due to the glare of the sunlight impairing his vision. Lowe was given a two-year prison sentence and a four-year driving ban after pleading guilty to one count of causing death by careless driving and one count of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Prosecuting, Mr Howard Searle, said: "The road has a 60mph speed limit imposed on it but the defendant was driving between 35 and 43mph.
"However, his vision was impaired due to the glare of the sun and he told police in interview that the first he knew of the victims was when he hit them. Susan was sent onto and over the bonnet of the car, while Ann was sent into a grass verge which sat on the side of the road. Her injuries were unfortunately fatal and Susan's have turned her life upside down."
The court heard how Lowe, who had a clean driving licence, was driving with family in his car at the time and stayed at the scene to assist police.
Defence solicitor Harry Owen said that his client 'felt complete, genuine remorse' over what had happened and labelled the incident 'a tragic accident'.
