Shropshire death crash driver jailed for nine months
A takeaway delivery driver who swerved his car into oncoming traffic near Shrewsbury, killing a woman, was today beginning a nine-month prison sentence.
Akhter Ali, 39, who also suffered serious injuries in the crash on the A458 in Ford, was driving a Vauxhall Zafira when he swerved in a bid to avoid hitting a car belonging to a woman who was waiting to turn right into her home.
He ended up hitting a Ford Focus travelling in the opposite direction, being driven by Darren Hollis, killing Darren's mother who was a passenger in the back.
Priscilla Hollis, 62, known as Ann, had just celebrated her wedding anniversary and had been out delivering Christmas presents with her family, when she died at the scene. Darren and his father John suffered injuries.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard Ali, who had been driving less than two years and had been returning from delivering a takeaway, was left with multiple injuries and one leg shorter than the other, which will need an operation, following the crash in heavy rain just before 9.30pm on December 23, 2013.
Ali initially pleaded not guily to causing death by careless driving but later changed his plea.
The court heard he had been unaware he was uninsured at the time of the crash because the car he was driving belonged to his employer.
Miss Joanne Baker, prosecuting, said: "Darren was unable to do anything to stop his car colliding with the oncoming car. Despite the best efforts of the public, ambulance and police, Ann was pronounced dead just after 10pm.
"Darren suffered bruised ribs and pain in his hip while John suffered crack ribs, a broken sternum and still suffers from his injuries today."
Miss Baker said experts had proved Ali should have seen the car and had eight seconds to stop as he was travelling at 50mph in a 60mph zone.
She said: "He should have seen the car and he should have stopped. He accepts that amounts to careless driving. Ann Hollis' death on her wedding anniversary and two days before Christmas, has had a devastating effect on her family and friends."
Mr Sham Uddin, defending, said that Ali, a father-of-two, was a man of good character who was in danger of losing his house because he was unable to work.
Ali, of Milton Street in Walsall, was also disqualified from driving for two years and will have to take an extended and comprehensive test before his licence is renewed.
