Staffordshire driver jailed over icy road crash that killed bride-to-be
A driver who killed a bride-to-be when trying to overtake three cars at once in the snow has been jailed for two years and six months.
Father-of-three Adam Smart, who was on his way to a job interview, lost control of his Kia 4x4 and hit an oncoming Peugeot driven by Margaret Tyrell.
Miss Tyrell, who was 43 , suffered multiple injuries in the smash and died instantly, despite members of the public and Smart himself trying to help her.
The crash happened on the snow and ice-covered A513 near Kings Bromley.
Smart, aged 32, of Lea Hall Lane, Rugeley, admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Sentencing him at Stafford Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Gosling told him: "To overtake in such perilous and unstable conditions was asking for trouble. You could have pulled in safely between the second and third cars, you could have pulled in between the first and second cars, but you kept going.
"Why you were unable to return to your own carriageway we'll never know – you lost control of your car. This was prompted by an arrogance and misplaced confidence in your own ability and vehicle."
The court heard that Smart had left home in plenty of time for the interview when the crash happened on January 30 this year. But, said Mr Ben Williams, prosecuting, the road was icy and covered in snow.
Other drivers – three in convoy – were travelling at 30mph because of the conditions when Smart attempted to overtake all of them at 50mph.
Miss Tyrell was on her way to work as manager of a Co-op store in Stafford.
The court heard Smart stayed at the scene doing what he could to help and was heard to say: "I think I've killed someone".
In a victim impact statement Miss Tyrell's partner Tim Price said they were due to marry in August.
He said: "I still can't believe she walked out the door that morning and never came back. I don't feel anger towards the driver, I just miss Margaret."
However, her father, Mr Robert Mitchell, said: "We'll never forgive him for what he's done to Maggie."
Smart told police he was used to driving in the snow in his 4x4 and thought he had time to execute the manoeuvre.
Miss Samantha Crabbe, defending, said: "He genuinely believed that he had ample time to perform the manoeuvre. Looking back, he accepts what he did was dangerous within the law. His thoughts throughout have been for the feelings of the loved ones of Margaret."
