Dangerous driver killed ‘wonderful head teacher’ after going wrong way down slip road
SHE ADMITS CHARGE IN COURT
A WOMAN driving the wrong way down a motorway slip road crashed into another car and killed a “wonderful” former Derbyshire head teacher.
Ann Marie Crook, 42, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday and admitted causing the death of Paula Kingdon, 64, by dangerous driving on the M57.
According to the charge, Crook also drove dangerously on the East Lancashire Road, in the lead-up to the fatal crash.
Crook was driving a black Renault Clio which hit Ms Kingdon’s blue Honda Jazz on a slip road at junction four, near Kirkby, at around 9.30am on October 31, 2019.
The motorway was closed between three junctions before two air ambulances landed and took the two women to hospital.
In a statement following the incident, Merseyside Police said Crook was left fighting for her life in hospital in a critical condition – but Ms Kingdon, who used to be headteacher at Westfield Infants School, near Chesterfield, died a short time later.
Crook, of Cheviot Avenue, St Helens, appeared in the dock and was supported by family in the public gallery, while members of Ms Kingdon’s family were in the area normally reserved for the jury.
Sarah Griffin, defending, requested a pre-sentence report on behalf of her client, which was granted by Judge Garrett Byrne.
Judge Byrne adjourned Crook’s sentencing until September 16 – and remanded her on unconditional bail until that date. Crook cried as she left the dock.
Ms Kingdon was described as “open-hearted” and “funny”, as well as a “proud Liverpudlian”.
Philip Childs, a close friend who launched a JustGiving Page which crowdfunded more than £2,000 for a memorial, paid tribute to the victim.
He said: “Paula was practically one of our family, but her influence, respect and love spread far and wide.
“Not just in our circle of friends but through the hundreds and hundreds of children, and later, their children, who she inspired during 40 years, 20 of them as headteacher, at Westfield Infants School.”
Speaking in 2019, he said: “Her death was a great shock and a great loss.
“She was the kindest person you could meet, the most open-hearted, funny, with a great sense of humour.
“She had time for everyone, she couldn’t do enough for anyone. She was a wonderful person.
“I still expect her to come through our door to visit us.”
He said that at the time of the crash, Ms Kingdon was on her way back to her adopted home city of Sheffield, having been to Merseyside to visit her stepdad and see her beloved Liverpool FC play.
The game with Arsenal, a League Cup tie, was a 10-goal thriller, finishing 5-5. The Anfield club went on to win 5-4 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.