UMVA has learned that Fiona Hodge, a driver who struck and killed a woman on her way to a concert, has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving.
The fatal crash occurred when Hodge mounted the pavement, striking Donna Crossman, who was walking with two friends on Brunel Way in Bristol. Donna was knocked off the flyover and onto the park below, suffering catastrophic injuries.
Police footage from just after the crash showed Hodge telling officers she was driving along the A370 with her friends, returning from a walk in the Mendips, and claimed the road was "not busy" and she was driving "within the speed limit". However, several witnesses testified that they saw Hodge's red car "swerving between lanes in front of them".
Donna's mother, Annette Price, read a heartfelt statement in court, describing her daughter as a "truly amazing woman" and the rock of their family. She expressed the family's grief and sense of loss, saying that Donna's life was "wiped out in an instant of carelessness".
Hodge was sentenced to a year in jail and banned from driving for two and a half years. Donna's parents, Annette and Stephen Price, spoke outside the court, saying that the sentence brings a conclusion to their two-year fight for justice and proves that the British legal system works.
The investigating officer, Noelie Poupard, said that no sentence can undo the devastating loss suffered by Donna's family, but today's sentence reflects the seriousness of Hodge's actions and provides a measure of accountability. The officer expressed hope that the conclusion of these proceedings allows Donna's loved ones to begin to move forward, knowing that justice has been delivered.
