Suspended sentence for taxi driver who killed teenage pedestrianA TAXI driver sobbed uncontrollably as he was given a suspended jail sentence for knocking over and killing a teenager on a coastal road.
Teesside Crown Court was told that Craig Williamson could have avoided the collision with Kirsty Louise Fennon on the A1085 Redcar to Marske road had he slowed and taken “precautionary action” on first sight of her.
Miss Fennon, 18, a student from Redcar, was killed instantly on impact with Williamson's Skoda Octavia which was being driven at 48mph in a 40mph zone.
The defendant admitted causing death by careless driving.
Prosecuting, Dan Cordey said witnesses described how the victim was seen walking along the white line in the middle of the road heading towards Redcar at about 4.45am on April 6 last year and appeared to be attempting to hitch a lift.
Miss Fennon, who had been drinking heavily and was the equivalent of two and three quarter times over the drink-drive limit, had been on a night out with friends in Redcar and got into a taxi heading for Brotton.
But only a short way into the journey she asked to get out and Mr Cordey said it was clearly her intention to walk back along the coast road to Redcar, while attempting to get a lift in a taxi.
Shortly before the fatal collision another taxi driver working for a different company, Mark Ritchie, had swerved to avoid Ms Fennon and warned his colleagues over his radio.
Williamson, 46, who worked for Marske-based Frontline Taxis and had been a cabbie for more than 20 years, was described by his employer as a “steady Eddie” type-character who could always be relied upon.
He said the victim had stepped out into the road from a grass verge in front of him – although the evidence from accident investigators contradicted this – and put her hands up to try and stop him.
Williamson said he slammed on the brakes and could not avoid a collision, but accepted he should have slowed down and moved across the road.
Mr Cordey said: “The collision occurred due to the excess speed of the Octavia and the lack of cautionary action beforehand.”
Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said Ms Fennon – described as “amazing” and a loyal friend by her parents - was dressed in black which would have made it difficult for drivers to see her.
He also said she posed an “unexpected hazard” and a result Williamson's culpability was much reduced.
Mr Cleasby added of Williamson: “The references speak of a hard working, dedicated family man who expresses genuine remorse.”
Judge George Moorhouse said whatever sentence he passed could not bring the teenager back.
He suspended a six month jail sentence on Williamson, of Byland Road, Skelton, for two years and said he would be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months.
He will also be disqualified from driving for two years.
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