Driver’s lack of care caused fatal injury

85-YEAR-OLD MAN STRUCK IN CAR PARK

A PENSIONER was knocked down and fatally injured in the car park of a medical centre by a woman who didn’t see him.

Clare McTaff had two of her five children in the car with her and was talking loudly or shouting at one of them as she pulled out of Blaydon Primary Care Centre, in Gateshead.

Janusz Wojciechowski, who McTaff knew, was on his way for an appointment and was walking across the car park when he was struck at slow speed.

The Polish-born 85-year-old was knocked to the ground and suffered bleeding in his head that resulted in the brain injury that killed him, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

McTaff, who was left devastated by the accident and has been forgiven by Mr Wojciechowski’s family, was found guilty after a trial of causing death by careless driving and has now been sentenced to a community order.

At the time of the collision, in September 2018, McTaff had been driving for only 18 months and had no history of motoring offences.

Sentencing her, Judge Julie Clemitson said: “You had been to the health centre with two of your young children and you were heard talking loudly or shouting inside the car as you drove off.

“Whether you were hurrying or not, it seems you were engaging with one of your children and undoubtedly that must have caused a degree of distraction to you.”

The judge said footage suggests McTaff lacked awareness of the dangers of moving her vehicle in the car park and she cut a corner as she drove off.

Judge Clemitson added: “Very sadly, you did not see Mr Wojciechowski until he was immediately in front of your bonnet and you were about to strike him with your vehicle. You recognised him at that moment.

“Sadly, your vehicle did strike him and he was knocked to the ground. He must have struck his head on the ground when he fell. You stopped and behaved properly and you were upset, as were your two children who were in the car.”

Passing nurses stopped and tended to Mr Wojciechowski until paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.

The judge said: “Tragically it was not appreciated until it was too late that he had sustained a head injury which had bled silently inside his skull which caused the brain injury and which led to his death the following morning.”

The court heard Mr Wojciechowski’s grandson gave evidence on behalf of McTaff during her trial and the judge said it’s “perfectly proper to infer” his family have forgiven her.

Judge Clemitson said: “The consequences of your carelessness cost him his life. It took place in a car park where extreme care is needed to look out for pedestrians.

“You knew it served a health centre so you should have taken extreme care, knowing there could be vulnerable people present.

“You were clearly affected by it and the knowledge you had caused that death. You have suffered significant psychological affects from the incident. It’s clear your remorse is genuine for causing Mr Wojciechowski’s death.

“No sentence I can pass can ever reflect the grief suffered by someone who has lost someone they love.”

As well as the community order with a three-month curfew, McTaff was banned from driving for 12 months.

The court heard she cares for her five children and her parents.

Ben Temple, defending, said she had been left with a “profound, enduring sense of culpability” and it has had a “profound burden” on her.

He added that she knew the victim and has been left with an “enduring image” of him after being struck.