Woman lost baby after crash with driver, 70

A70-YEAR-OLD driver has narrowly avoided prison for causing a horror crash that resulted in a pregnant woman losing her unborn child.

Denis Clark told people at the scene of the accident that he had just returned from overseas and was used to driving on the other side of the road.

Clark, from Tywardreath, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Prosecuting the case, Hollie Gilbery described how on March 25 last year at 8:20am the victim was driving to tend to her horses at Kuggar on The Lizard.

The victim was familiar with the stretch of road having driven it twice a day and slowed her speed as she approached a bend.

As she took the bend she noticed Clark on her side of the road and locked her arms and braced for impact.

The victim said that Clark made no attempt to brake or swerve and moments later the cars collided head-on causing significant damage to both. The woman was taken to hospital suffering a broken collarbone and abdominal pains.

Clark told people attending the scene that he was on the wrong side of the road but how it was “the right side” in Spain where he had just returned from.

She was told her baby was fine but tragically when she returned days later for a 20 week scan was told her baby hadn’t survived, forcing her to go through an agonising still birth.

Clark himself remained in hospital until August, the accident resulting in him having to have his leg removed. He also contracted Covid19 while there.

He told police he had swerved to avoid a dog but police enquiries revealed that there were no dogs living in the sole property near to the scene of the accident.

Defending Clark, Chris Nicholls said: “This was a momentary lapse. He got onto the wrong side of the road on the bend and remained there for two seconds. He accepts full responsibility for the collision.”

Sentencing Clark, Judge Simon Carr said that he was in no doubt the victim’s stillbirth was either caused by, or related to the crash.

Describing the circumstances as “truly tragic”, he said the victim was “20 weeks pregnant and driving in a responsible and sensible fashion on a road she knew well. She approached the bend and slowed down and was confronted with you coming in the other direction on the wrong side of the road.

“She did everything she could to avoid the collision but felt you made no efforts at all.” He added: “It defies common sense to suggest the child’s death was not caused by, or contributed to by the accident.”

Judge Carr went on to state how Clark too suffered catastrophic injuries and that he believes he lost his bearings on an unmarked road having recently returned from Spain where he drove on the right side.

Given Clark’s age, his lack of relevant previous offending and the pressure Covid-19 is placing on the prison system, he was given a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.