Driver has shown no remorse since the crash.. the justice system has failed us
Family hit out at fag flick teenager as they tell how lives changed with loss of ‘amazing mum’
A DISTRACTED driver who killed a retired teacher in a crash as she flicked a cigarette from her car window has walked free from court.
Kathryn Forman, 19, who admitted death by careless driving at an earlier hearing, was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work, put on a one-year supervision order and banned from driving for three years.
Relatives of her victim, Dorothy Cruickshank, 66, said afterwards that they had been let down by the justice system.
And they accused Forman of “showing no hint of human decency” in the months following the two-car crash near the notorious Toll of Birness, north of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in April last year.
Dorothy suffered a broken pelvis, legs and ribs and died from multi-organ failure 10 days later.
In a statement, the family said: “Our mum was tragically taken from us due to Kathryn Forman’s reckless driving and today she walks free.
“The justice system has failed us.
“She has shown no sign of remorse or hint of human decency since the crash, which is incomprehensible.
“We ask that people please drive responsibly as the devastation caused is unbearable for those left behind.
“Our lives changed forever the day we lost our amazing mum, a loving wife, and doting nanna and our wider community has lost a loyal and dear friend.”
Forman previously admitted a charge of death by careless driving, and returned to Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing yesterday.
The social work student caused the crash while flicking a cigarette from the window of the Peugeot 207 as she drove along the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road with three friends.
The “short distraction” caused the car to mount the kerb and swerve out of control, smashing into an oncoming Volkswagen Passat being driven by Dorothy’s husband James.
The force of the impact propelled the vehicle into a layby, trapping the couple, from Hatton, Aberdeenshire, inside.
Forman’s solicitor Gavin Anderson opened his remarks yesterday by apologising on behalf of Forman.
He said the teenager had been unable to speak out before that point as she had been advised against discussing the crash with anyone but her legal team.
Mr Anderson said: “She has not been able to apologise personally to those involved because such a discussion might encroach into the case. “She is clearly distressed and devastated at having caused the death of another individual.” After hearing the arguments in court, Sheriff Brown said: “Nothing which I can say or do can lessen the grief felt by Mrs Cruickshank’s husband, family and friends. It appears that what occurred was a traumatic but devastating accident not caused by a prolonged period of bad driving but momentary inattention.”
He ordered Forman, of Iona Avenue in Peterhead, to undertake 300 hours of unpaid work over the next year.
She was also placed on a one-year supervision order and has been banned from driving for three years.
One of the teenage victims of the crash, Kyle Hutton, who was in Forman’s car, described the verdict as “disgusting”.
The keen boxer was unable to walk properly for five months afterwards and is awaiting a hip replacement to fully correct the injuries he sustained.
His mum Vicky said: “I think it is shocking. I feel bad for the Cruickshanks. “A bigger ban would have been better but jail wasn’t
happening.”