Widow's anguish over death of husband in crash with Shrewsbury van driver
A widow has spoken of her anguish following the death of her husband in an accident involving a Shropshire delivery driver.
Robert Malcolm Jones was this week found guilty of causing the death of 69-year-old Kenneth Gordon Brereton
Jones, 48, was cleared of the more serious charge of causing the death of Mr Brereton by dangerous driving.
The accident happened in February and Mr Brereton's wife Rosalind was seriously injured.
Mr and Mrs Brereton's Land Rover had broken down on the Llan-y-pwll link road.
The vehicle was stationary with its hazard lights on when it was struck by a box van being driven by Jones.
Jones, of New Park Road, Castlefields, Shrewsbury, was banned from driving for 18 months and was given a community order after being convicted of death by careless driving.
Mrs Brereton, of Rossett Hall Farm, Rossett, told Mold Crown Court that she missed her husband so much and that the accident had had a horrible effect on her two sons, daughter, and grandchildren.
"He did so much with his grandchildren. They idolised him," she said.
In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecuting barrister John Philpotts, she told how after the collision she was in hospital for 24 hours with concussion, a torn muscle in her back, severe bruising and a large laceration to the top of the head.
After she was released she suffered severe migraine and light headedness and for three months was unable to lie down because the pressure was unbearable.
She was in considerable pain, regularly visited her GP, started a course of physiotherapy and when matters did not improve she was referred to a consultant.
A CT scan of her neck showed that she had fractured two vertebrae and a third had been chipped.
Kim Halsall, defending Jones, said that it had been more than a momentary inattention, but not a great deal longer.
She added that Jones's vision had been affected by low sunlight.
But she said: "He must accept that he committed an error of judgement in not reducing his speed and reacting accordingly."
The Land Rover had been a hazard in the road, but the defendant had to accept that he should have been able to see it.
He was a man of good character who knew he had to be disqualified, Mrs Halsall said.
She said he did not have a car, he had no intention of getting one and the incident had put him off driving.
Mrs Halsall said that she hoped the family of the deceased understood that the fact that he had not apologised until the case had concluded was not because he did not want to but it had not been appropriate during the proceedings.
"He does understand what he has done," she said.
"He does wish to express his sincere apologies to everyone affected."
