Woman given 18 months to live killed by learner driver day later
A LEARNER driver killed his fiancée’s sister in a crash the day after she was told she had 18 months to live.
Anthony Grimmond has been jailed for three years and four months after the crash, which killed passenger Leanna Culver.
Grimmond, 27, initially denied causing death by dangerous driving, but changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial in February. He had admitted the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving and causing death while unlicensed and uninsured.
Ms Culver, 20, had been diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease with a life expectancy of about 18 months the day before the crash. She died after Grimmond, who was engaged to her sister Chloe, lost control of his car on a bend in Cobham, Surrey, and knocked down a telegraph pole, on Mar 15 last year.
Grimmond, of Meopham, Kent, was banned from driving for five-and-a-half years and will have to take an extended test before being allowed back on the road. Passing sentence, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said: “This is a very sad and serious case. There is added poignancy that shortly before the collision, Leanna was diagnosed with a serious heart condition which affected her life expectancy.”
Maidstone Crown Court heard that Grimmond claimed that he had swerved to avoid an animal late at night and in his panic had hit the accelerator instead of the brakes.
Rowan Jenkins, prosecuting, said: “He was clearly not experienced enough to drive and deal with hazards and didn’t possess the necessary qualifications and chose to go out and drive.” Mr Jenkins added: “He over-steered and instead of putting his foot on the brake, he whacks his foot on the accelerator and loses control.”
Grimmond had taken only 10 driving lessons. A saliva test for drugs indicated the presence of cannabis, but a blood sample indicated a level below the statutory limit.
The court was told he had mental health problems and the day before he had taken an overdose of antidepressant tablets in a suicide attempt.
Kieron Moroney, defending, said Grimmond was remorseful. He said: “It is unfortunate he did not plead guilty earlier. Perhaps he was not facing up to the reality of what he had done. He is genuinely devastated.”
Chloe Culver, who has a child with Grimmond, said in a statement: “I know he didn’t mean this to happen. It was an accident. He knew he should not have driven and he has to live with that for the rest of his life.”