Driver in court over death of pensioner
A MOTORIST has appeared in court accused of causing the death of her pensioner passenger by careless driving.
Victoria Peverley was behind the wheel of her yellow Peugeot 1009 when she allegedly pulled out of a junction in front of an HGV in Ashington.
The two vehicles collided, causing the 31-year-old’s passenger, Kathleen Marshall, to become trapped in the vehicle.
The pensioner was freed by emergency services and taken to hospital with serious injuries, including multiple fractures and a collapsed lung, a court heard.
The 70-year-old, who was the aunt of Peverley’s partner, died 10 days later.
Peverley, of Fourth Avenue in Morpeth, was in the dock at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court yesterday to face one count of causing death by careless driving. She spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address and to confirm she was withholding her plea and would be electing for her case to be heard at the crown court.
Paul Anderson, prosecuting, said the accident happened on Woodhorn Lane in Ashington, as Peverley pulled out from the grounds of the Wansbeck General Hospital on the morning of January 8 last year.
It’s alleged that she drove into the path of the HGV.
Mr Anderson called it a “tragic case for all” and said the case was suitable to he heard at the magistrates’ court.
He added: “Despite the fact there has been a loss of life, there’s no suggestion that this is a case that needs to go any further than this court.”
Magistrates accepted jurisdiction but Paul Dunn, for Peverley, indicated that she would be electing to have her case heard at Newcastle Crown Court, which she confirmed.
Mr Dunn said: “This is a tragic case. Nothing I can say can take away from that. The lady concerned was Miss Peverley’s aunt-in-law.”
Magistrates released Peverley on unconditional bail until her next appearance at Newcastle Crown Court on March 30.