‘Speeding’ crash driver had lights off
A WOMAN driving at speeds approaching 100mph with no headlights on at night, collided with a car in wet weather causing it to hit a lorry.
Three cars ended up in the collison on the A48 westbound carriageway near Cross Hands in November last year.
Beverley Patricia Ward, who caused the accident, was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court. She had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving at the court on October 25.
Ward, aged 31, of Tonnant Road, Pentrechwyth, Swansea, was banned from driving for two years by district judge David Parsons.
Prosectutor Sian Cutter said the incident happened at 8.15pm on November 6, last year which resulted in the closure of the A48.
She added: “The defendant was driving a Peugot 206 and there was also a Mercedes and a Nissan involved.”
“The defendant’s car and the Mercedes ended up colliding with the central reservation after spinning in the accident.”
She said the Mercedes contained a couple who had just left the Cross Hands roundabout and were on the westbound carriageway with a slow moving lorry in front.
Mrs Cutter said: “They went to overtake and as they were alongside the lorry felt a shove from behind and their car shot forward.
“The car hit the protective barriers on the side of the lorry and they steered away from the lorry but ended up spinning 180 degrees and then went backwards hitting the central reservation. They could see the defendant’s car coming towards them with no headlights and a smashed windscreen.”
A Nissan was then struck in the accident which the driver felt as “two bangs” said Mrs Cutter and then looking back in the mirror saw car “lights spining around behind”.
The female in the Mercedes suffered with anxiety after the crash and the male suffered a foot injury.
The Nissan driver was unharmed.
The prosecution said another witness, not involved in the crash, estimated the speed of Ward’s car had been between 90mph and 100mph, travelling in the fast lane “overtaking with no lights and only a side light on.”
Mrs Cutter said: “In police interview, the defendant said her driving had been ‘average’ at the time and when asked if driving with only a side light illumanated and no headlights was unsafe she said “possibly.”
“She knew the lorry was in the left lane and needed to overtake it, but then couldn’t recall the collision.”
Defence solicitor Andrew Isaac said there had been undiagonsed mental health problems at the time which were now being addressed.
“My client after the accident made a voluntary application for the DVLA to revoke her licence.”
District judge Parsons said: “The aggravating features here are excessive speed, no lights at a time of night when they were needed and insufficient allowance of the weather conditions.”
As well as the driving ban, Ward was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, spend 25 days in rehabilitation and pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.