Family’s fury after killer dementia driver let off
THE family of a grandmother killed by a driver with dementia have called for the law to be tightened to prevent such a tragedy happening again.
Mary Hambrook’s son Terence Geheran said ministers must act to get ‘ ticking time bomb’ elderly motorists with degenerative mental illnesses off the roads.
His 67-year-old mother suffered fatal injuries when James Harris, 87, ploughed into the charity shop where she was working on a window display.
Investigators believed Harris, who had recently been diagnosed with dementia, confused the accelerator pedal of his Vauxhall Corsa with the brake before careering out of a car park at high speed and through the shop window.
His car piled into the back wall of the shop as the wheels continued to spin, burning through the carpet.
Mrs Hambrook was trapped under the vehicle and died in hospital three days later. A jury found Harris caused her death in August last year by dangerous driving but he was released with an absolute discharge because of his frail health.
Mr Geheran, 37, of Orpington, south-east London, said losing his mother, who had four children and 11 grandchildren, ‘tore the heart out of our family’.
He added: ‘The police said to us they see incidents like this too often. Something has to be done. There needs to be a change in the law.
‘He could have had signs of dementia for a long time, we will never know. No one could say how long he had had it. We feel the justice system has let us down. There was no punishment for him, only for us.
‘And nothing has changed to make sure another family never has to face what we have been through. These people are ticking time bombs.’ Mr Geheran, who said Harris had insisted his car had a mechanical fault, added: ‘We have had no apology and he has shown no remorse.’
The tragedy at the Give2Give charity shop in Petts Wood, near Orpington, highlights how some individuals with dementia are putting lives at risk by remaining behind the wheel.
Campaigners, GPs and ministers are concerned that motorists are slipping through the cracks of an outdated driving licence system.
People diagnosed with dementia must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or face a fine of up to £1,000. Officials will ask to see their medical record and use this to determine if they can still drive. As their illness progresses they will reach a point where they can no longer drive safely and must stop. If an individual becomes unsure of their abilities they can have a driving assessment, which is like a test. The DVLA can also request an assessment, but the system relies heavily on the goodwill of the motorist. Some may defy the law because they fear losing their independence. All drivers must renew their licence the and that. DVLA then But by every when filling Mr three Geheran they in a years reach form said: after for 70, ‘There the law needs that brings to be in a change an awareness in and reactions test for elderly drivers.’ A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘The law is clear. Drivers must be medically fit to use a car on our roads.’ The spokesman added that as well as a driver diagnosed with dementia having to tell the DVLA, the agency will also investigate notifications from medical professionals, family and friends with concerns that someone cannot drive safely.