Mum sacrificed herself to save daughter from lorry
A DRIVER who inadvertently killed a young mother as she dived in front of a car transporter to save her five-yearold daughter has been spared jail.
Rachael Martin, 29, was walking her two daughters to school, when little Keira shot out in front of the vehicle.
The heroic mother, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, shoved the schoolgirl out of the way as Leah, seven, looked on, but was killed when she was dragged under the wheels of the 7.5-tonne truck.
The act of sacrifice attracted nationwide praise, with Keira, who suffered serious pelvic injuries, telling her heartbroken grandad: “Mummy saved my life.”
The youngster was flown to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery before being moved to London for further operations.
Warwick Crown Court was told how driver David Farr, 51, in an eight-car DAF transporter, had made a delivery to a dealership and was doing a three-point turn at the time of the accident on May 20 last year.
He was unaware that Miss Martin and her two daughters were near him as he completed the manoeuvre. He initially denied causing death by dangerous driving, but later changed his plea to guilty.
Rachael’s father Bill Simpson told how he rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital after being contacted at work.
He expected to see his daughter at young Keira’s side, but was given the shattering news that she had died.
Mr Simpson said: “To be told your child is dead is totally overpowering to the mind and body. I went over to Keira and held her hand, and the first thing she said to me was ‘Mummy saved me’.”
Farr, of Burslem, Stoke-onTrent, was handed an 18-week sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £2,500 costs.
Sentencing Farr on Friday, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: “Rachael was 29 at the date of her death. There is no doubt in my mind that her last action on this earth saved the life of her daughter.
“The sense of devastation from the Simpson family is quite enormous.
“There was nothing wrong with the reversing, him having checked his rear-view mirrors, but instead of carrying out proper checks to the front and side, he pulled forward.
“Here, the life of a young mother has been lost and her young daughters, who witnessed that, have been deeply traumatised.
“Mr Farr has shown considerable remorse. This man has been, for 11 months, suicidal and suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.”
Oliver Weetch, prosecuting, said: “Almost certainly seeing what was about to happen, Rachael Martin went after her daughter, trying to pull her back.”