14 months for trucker who killed mum and girl, six, on a red light
A LORRY driver who drove through a red light and killed a mother and daughter on a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for just 14 months.
Trucker Neville Fletcher ran down Zena Jackson and six-year-old Cidalia after he failed to stop at a junction.
Mother-of-six Zena, 46, had been teaching her daughter how to cross the road safely moments before the tragedy near a supermarket in Hull.
They had waited patiently for the lights to go through a whole sequence before stepping off the kerb carrying bags of shopping on 29 April.
When they were halfway across Fletcher, 55, drove through the traffic lights and they were dragged under both sets of his HGV’s wheels.
Dashcam footage from Fletcher’s truck recording the horrific incident was played to Hull Crown Court, where he admitted two charges of causing death by careless driving.
Prosecutor Patrick Palmer told the court that as Fletcher approached the crossing the lights turned red.
Mr Palmer said: “At that point it was safe, as Ms Jackson thought, for her to step out with her daughter. She was some way across when the collision occurred.” The prosecutor said the pedestrians were “clearly to be seen” yet Palmer, despite slowing down to 3mph, just carried on. A witness saw Zena try to push her daughter clear “but alas to no avail”.
Malcolm Galloway, mitigating, said Fletcher had been left “devastated” by remorse and guilt. The trucker was also banned from the roads for five years and seven months.
Later Zena’s daughter Sadie, 24, slammed his 14-month prison term, saying: “We haven’t received justice.”
Police Sergeant Rob Mazingham said: “The family do not feel the sentence reflects the loss of life.” Dashcam film, far left, shows mum and daughter leaving kerb. Left: Cidalia, who was being taught to cross road safely. Right: Fletcher at court