A speeding driver who killed a woman in a head-on collision in Borrowash has been jailed.
Scott Bradley’s Vauxhall Astra was seen driving at speed and mounting the pavement just before it hit a Honda Jazz head-on in Nottingham Road on 10 April 2024.
Kathleen O’Neill, the driver of the Honda, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. The 75-year-old died almost two weeks later, on 23 April.
CCTV showed that just before the crash, Bradley was speeding and his car mounted the pavement as he tried to avoid street furniture and concrete bollards. He hit several items before steering back onto the road, driving on the wrong side and then hitting the Honda, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The force of the impact was so severe that it lifted the back of the Honda off the ground and pushed it 23 metres back from the point of impact.
Both vehicles then collided with another car.
Investigations found that the Astra was travelling at around 69 mph at the time of the impact in a 30 mph zone.
Two people who were with Bradley the night before the crash said he had been drinking and taking cocaine during the evening and into the following morning.
A woman who was a passenger in his car at the time of the collision told officers she was screaming at him and asking him to slow down as he was driving too fast, but this just made him drive faster.
She also said that another friend had taken the keys from Bradley and driven the defendant’s car as he didn’t believe Bradley was fit to drive. However, Bradley later got the keys back and drove again.
Examinations of Bradley’s car after the collision showed the speedometer had stopped at 73 mph.
Bradley was arrested and interviewed and replied “no comment” to all questions asked.
The 45-year-old, of Fowler Street, Draycott, was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
He admitted the offence and was jailed for 10 years and 6 months on 21 September. He was also banned from driving for a total of 14 years and 3 months and must take an extended retest before he can drive again.
Detective Constable Rich Howiss, who led the investigation, said: “It is clear from the CCTV and the witness accounts that Bradley was not fit to drive on this day and that he shouldn’t have been behind the wheel.
“One friend had already taken his keys off him, and another begged him to slow down when he did drive. But he carried on regardless, speeding and giving no consideration to other road users – or even his passenger.
“He mounted pavements, crashed into street furniture and then eventually crashed straight into Kathleen’s car as she approached him from the opposite direction. She had no opportunity to react or take evasive action as Bradley’s car hit her at speed and pushed her a considerable distance down the road.
“For Kathleen’s family, what followed was an agonising two weeks at the hospital, praying she would survive. Sadly, though, her injuries were too significant and she never recovered. Her death has devastated her loved ones, who now grieve for her every day.
“Bradley did manage to survive his injuries but, in police interview, refused to answer any questions or give his own account. I am glad, therefore, that he has finally accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty.
“He is now rightly serving a prison sentence and I hope this sentence brings some small form of comfort for Kathleen’s family.
“I’d also like to hope that this shows the very real consequences of dangerous driving and driving while under the influence.
“The risks are real – and you could be responsible for taking someone’s life.
“Please stick to the rules of the road and think about others as well as yourself.”
