Death crash driver avoids jail 24/5/14
A Western Isles motorist who killed a woman in a car crash has been spared prison.
Caroline Mackay instead received a four year driving ban and 250 hours of unpaid community service work when she was sentenced at Stornoway Sheriff Court on Friday
The 22-
Karin, 51, suffered serious head injuries and died within hours.
Sheriff David Sutherland said: “This is a tragic case with the consequences devastating for many people,” including a young girl losing her mum.
He added: “This is an extremely serious offence with dreadful consequences.”
The sheriff said he had considered a jail term but decided on a non-
He said: “This is a tragic case with the consequences devastating for many people.”
“Why you lost control of the car we do not know. We can only know the dreadful outcome with the consequences far outweigh the apparent level of culpability. I have no doubt you are remorseful and would wish to go back.
The 250 hours of unpaid community service work has to be completed by next May. The order was reduced from 300 hours for changing her plea to guilty, thus avoiding a jury trial which was due to be heard last month.
Mackay indicated she had no desire to drive but if she ever did she must sit the extended driving test, instructed the sheriff. She must also follow the guidance or advice of her doctor or counsellor.
Defence advocate Steve Love said Mackay was “deeply remorseful for her actions and the consequences ” and “expresses real sympathy” to the families of the victims.
Mackay did not intend to cause harm, nor was purposefully a bad driver and would “undo what happened,” if she could.
The advocate said Mackay had no memory of the accident and a medical report concluded it was probably due to sustaining a head injury in the crash.
He said the “consequences of the accident will remain with her for the rest of her life.”
► Health worker was killed in tragic crash