Grieving mum says: It will haunt us for ever

Popular vet was killed by dangerous driver

The mum of a vet killed in a head-on collision has spoken of her loss after the driver who killed her was jailed for more than four years.

Popular Rachel Radwell, of Crane Avenue, Yaxley died as a result of the injuries suffered in the horror crash on the B1095 Ramsey Road in November 2018.

The 46-year old chief veterinary nurse at Wood Green Animal Shelter had been driving her Ford Fiesta when it was struck by the speeding Range Rover Sport being driven by VytautasKiminius(35),ofSudbury Court, Peterborough.

The court heard that while investigators were not able to say what speed the Range Rover had been travelling at, it had been speeding, as Kiminius took ‘the racing line’ round a blind bend, crashing head on into the car being driven by Miss Radwell.

She died later that day. More than 200 people attended her funeral.

Kiminius claimed he had swerved to avoid an animal, which meant he was travelling in the wrong lane. However, a jury rejected his claims, finding him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Kiminius was jailed for four and a half years by Judge Sean Enright at Peterborough Crown Court.

The court heard a heartbreaking statement from Rachel’s mum, Susan, who said her daughter’s death was still very hard to come to terms with, a nd she expected Rachel to come through her door every morning.

She said: “People say it will get easier with time bit doesn’t seem like it will.

“She didn’t deserve to have her life cut short so soon.

“She will not be able to see her nephew and niece grow up.

“Her life was stolen from her.

“It will haunt us forever that we were not able to speak to her and comfort her that night.It feels like our lives have been put on hold.”

Clive Byles, the CEO of Wood Green Animal Shelter, described Rachel as a ‘special person,’ saying she was ‘warm hearted, charismatic, and someone who had the ability to change the mood in a room.’

As a result of the ‘profound loss’ felt by staff at the animal shelter, a bursary has been set up in her name.

The court heard Kiminius, a father of two young children, had two previous convictions for speeding, and had been warned by police about his speed when driving the same car on the same road just a few days previously.

Claire Davies, defending, said he had remained at the scene of the crash, and called the emergency services to get help for Rachel.

He pleaded guilty to causing death while uninsured, but denied causing death by dangerous driving. However, a jury convicted him of the charge in February.

Judge Sean Enright, said the sentence he was passing was not meant to reflect the value of Rachel’s life.

He said: “He came round the blind bend on the wrong side of the road directly into her lane, head on on impact. She was driving properly. The fault lay with him, of that there is no doubt.

“The evidence suggests he was driving rapidly, although the crown accept not at a grossly excessive speed.”

WE CAN GET

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Rachel Radwell