Pregnant driver caused crash death

A heavily pregnant woman due to give birth in two weeks has been told she faces jail for causing the death of a motorcyclist.

Niral Patel, 34, was at the wheel of her Mercedes when it cut across the path of Brian Marsh’s Honda in Old Dover Road, Barham, in November.

Mr Marsh, who lived locally, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Patel, who is due to give birth on June 17, admitted causing the death of 65-year-old Mr Marsh by careless driving.

Her barrister, Timothy Pole, told Judge Heather Norton that Patel was anxious for the case to be heard as soon as possible.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that her car had turned right across Mr Marsh’s oncoming vehicle in what Mr Pole described as a “momentary inattention”.

He added: “It was a case of looking but not seeing. She was pregnant at the time.”

Prosecutor Martin Yale said the standard of driving “wasn’t far short of being dangerous” and Patel had given no explanation for turning when she did.

“The prosecution say that there was a high degree of carelessness.”

Judge Norton imposed an interim driving ban on Patel and adjourned sentencing until tomorrow (Friday) for the preparation of a probation report.

Mr Yale added that the victim’s family was not planning to attend the hearing but would make a victim impact statement which would be given to the judge.

Judge Norton told Patel, who lives in Walmer, that “all sentencing options were open”, including a possible jail sentence.