OAP smashed into man in broken down car at side of road
THIS is the mangled wreckage of a “life-changing” horror smash caused by an 82-year-old woman.
Pensioner Sylvia Blackman didn’t even try to brake as her Fiat Punto hurtled towards a man as he got a petrol can from his boot.
He survived, but a court heard the 57-year-old victim suffered brain and spinal injuries.
Prosecutors say jailing Blackman at her age “does not benefit anybody”. But she must now be sentenced by a judge for an offence which carries up to five years in prison.
“Originally those were life-threatening injuries,” prosecutor James Long said. North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the victim ran out of petrol on Station Road, Wallsend, on September 19.
“He’s got out of the car, put his hazards on and gone out the back to retrieve his petrol can.
“Mrs Blackman has driven up the road and despite it being a long flat road ... she’s failed to see his car, and has driven into the back of the car.”
A cyclist, who witnessed the incident, told police he heard a “terrible crash”. However Mr Long added: “He does not hear the sound of screeching brakes.”
Despite the conditions, the defendant claimed she had not spotted the victim until it was too late.
After admitting causing injury through dangerous driving, magistrates imposed an interim driving ban on the Forest Hall pensioner. Her full ban will be revealed at sentencing on January 17. She must sit an extended test before driving again. But her