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Taxi driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit pedestrian after driving for 21 hourshttps://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... el-5555341The defendant's vehicle did not stopA taxi driver had been driving for 21 hours and fell asleep at the wheel when she hit a mum who was walking with her daughter.
Lisa Mason's taxi came off the road and ploughed into her from behind on the A614/Bawtry Road, near Bircotes, on August 23 last year.
The daughter had planned to do a charity walk at a different location that weekend but it was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Monday, June 21.
Her daughter decided she would plan her own route and set off that morning, with her mum, to complete 100 kilometres and stop at friend's houses on the way round.
But then they encountered Mason, 42, of Minster Drive, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln.
The daughter witnessed her mother "flying through the air", said Steven Taylor, prosecuting, having been hit by a vehicle.
"The defendant's vehicle did not stop, having mounted the pavement and grass verge, it drove off after the collision."
Found at the scene was a magnetic car badge which displayed the taxi company logo, based in Lincoln, and "04" under the logo which corresponded with the taxi Mason was driving on the morning in question.
Mason worked for the company on a self-employed basis. She had a pick-up that morning. Messages on her phone showed her boss had asked if she would go to Doncaster Airport for a customer that wanted to go back to Lincoln.
Mason had replied "no, I'll fall asleep at the wheel. If I'd had some sleep, I would, but I haven't. I haven't had much sleep. I don't trust myself".
"He said 'do it for me and I will give you a day off tomorrow and Monday' and she replied 'okay' and she indicated to him she would sleep in a lay-by until 8.30am. The accident was around 6.30am.
"Whether she was on her way directly to the airport or heading to some place where she was planning to rest a while," said Mr Taylor. "She was travelling with a view to pick up passengers from the airport at Doncaster.
"In a prepared statement she had indicated that she had not felt tired. She thought she'd had a blackout. She now accepts she must have fallen asleep at the wheel. The messages suggest that would have been the case".
The victim of the accident suffered two broken legs. Surgical intervention involved a pin inserted in one limb and a plate in the other. She was kept in hospital for three weeks and discharged and she was seen in the fracture clinic in October and started to mobilise herself from a wheelchair.
Her victim impact statement revealed she had to use a wheelchair when she was discharged from hospital, she requires constant care from her partner and daughter, and she is prone to bursting into tears for no apparent reason. She is unable to walk more than 100 yards due to the pain.
She added: "Never did I imagine I would be reliant on a walking aid or a wheelchair at the age of 56."
Mason, represented by Chris Jeyes, said she was sorry for what she did and the affect on the victim. Had she been aware of what happened, she would have stopped and lent assistance. She handed in her taxi licence immediately and she no longer wishes to drive.
Judge Stuart Raafferty QC sentenced her to 27 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She will serve half before she can be released on licence. A driving ban was imposed for two years after she is released.
He told Mason in the dock: "As you said to the probation officer, by the time this accident happened, you had been driving for 21 hours and had had no sensible rest".
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