Suffolk pensioner jailed for causing fatal crash after 'falling asleep'
A Suffolk pensioner's been sentenced to a year in prison after admitting causing a crash which left a "much loved Gran" dead.
Colin Brown, who's 78 and from Upper Street in Layham near Ipswich, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
On Augst 14th 2018, Brown was in a Renault Master van towing a caravan which veered on to the opposite side of the road into an oncoming Citroen C3 on the A66 close to the Llama Karma Kafe, east of Penrith.
He was heading to the Lakes from his home in Suffolk at the time of the crash and had made three breaks during the seven-hour journey.
A court heard that his van drifted 150 metres in around six seconds across the road - in "slow motion" and without any "evasive action or breaking" - into the path of 76-year old Ann Copley from Carlisle.
It gave her "absolutley no chance" to react, a court heard today.
In an impact statement, one of the three daughters, Penny Allison, said: "From that moment our lives have never been the same and never will be again.
"She didn't deserve to go like that - no one does."
She described her mother as "full of life, happy and outgoing", and "mentally still in her 50s, young at heart, very active".
She said her mother's loss was "immense".
Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith said: "She was, in reality, the only grandparent of those children, and they have lost that generation now in its entirety."
Andrew Nuttall, defending, said Brown's remorse was "wholly genuine" and he had been left "utterly distraught".
"He fell asleep but he didn't intend to do that. He never intended to hurt anyone.
"He never intended to drive poorly.
"There has been a death and he is responsible for it. It will haunt him for the rest of his life."
Judge Nicholas Barker said: "There are some who may observe that 'what is the point of sending an elderly man of your age into custody?'.
"But I, and this court, recognise that there is a significant body of ageing population who drive; who also hold a significant duty of responsibility for their driving to the care of others.
"That is the message that, in my judgement, muse be made and must be sent out."
Brown will also serve a three-year driving ban upon his release although Mr Nuttall said: "He will never drive again."