A 69-year-old woman from Werburgh, Bristol, who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, has successfully appealed against her sentence.
At the trial at Bristol Crown Court in April, 2026, she entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, attributing the accident to a sudden epileptic seizure.
On June 9th, 2024, the defendant was driving a Citroen C1 over a flyover at Brunel Way, when she lost control of the vehicle, mounted the kerb, and struck a 53-year-old woman who was walking to a concert at Ashton Gate Stadium. The victim was knocked over the railing and fell to her death 20 feet below.
Witness statements asserted that the defendant’s driving had been fine until the moment of the accident, when she seemed suddenly to lose control of the car. Nevertheless, she was found guilty and sentenced to one year imprisonment. She was also banned from driving for two years and six months, and required to take an extended retest before resuming driving.
Following a successful appeal, however, her sentence has now been reduced to one year imprisonment, suspended for two years, and her driving ban has been reduced to two years. Additionally, she must pay over £3000 in legal costs.
If you are accused of causing death by careless driving, solicitors at Auriga Advocates have the experience and specialist knowledge to help you at every stage of the legal process. We can advise on possible defences and mitigating factors, and guide you through the police and court procedures. Contact us now, and let’s see how we can support you going forward.