A driver who fatally struck an RAF veteran with her car as the victim walked to a concert has been convicted of causing death by careless driving. Fiona Hodge, 69, mounted the kerb in her Citroen C1 and hit 53-year-old Donna Crossman on a main road in Bristol in June 2024, narrowly missing Ms Crossman's friends who were walking alongside her.
Catastrophic Injuries and Tragic Fall
The force of the collision sent Ms Crossman, who had once managed Wales' national rugby and netball teams, over the railings of the busy dual carriageway on Brunel Way. She crashed down onto a BMX pump track below, suffering catastrophic injuries that proved fatal just hours later while surrounded by her family at the hospital.
Driver's Account of the Incident
In newly released video footage, Ms Hodge can be heard telling police officers that she couldn't account for how the accident occurred. "The road wasn't busy, I was driving within the speed limit, I was coming home from a day's walking in the Mendips and I was chatting to my friends... and I mounted the pavement and hit... a person," she explained to the officer.
She continued: "It was very quick, I didn't really see the person. Actually, she seems to have gone over the side of the bridge on the side of the road. I don't know why I lost my concentration or mounted the pavement. I can't account for what happened really. It's a very nasty accident."
Court Proceedings and Medical Evidence
Fiona Hodge had denied responsibility for the death of Donna Crossman, but a jury at Bristol Crown Court found her guilty following six hours of deliberation. The court heard that Hodge had subsequently been diagnosed with epilepsy by neurologists and had suffered "weird" episodes beforehand, though she had never experienced a seizure prior to the crash.
Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, told the court: "She was asked if she thought she had a medical condition and she replied that she didn't, she was asked if she thought she had experienced a medical episode and she replied 'no', and she was asked if she lost consciousness and she replied 'no'."
Witness Accounts and Police Investigation
Witnesses to the crash told police that Hodge's red Citroen C1 had been "swerving in and out" of a bus lane in the minutes before the fatal collision. One witness explained in body-worn camera footage: "She had been indicating for quite a while and about 20 seconds before (the crash) I said, 'I'm going to get back because I don't know what she's up to'."
The court confirmed that Hodge tested negative for both alcohol and drugs immediately following the crash. Ian Bridge, defending, had argued that "it is likely that this collision happened because she (Hodge) was suffering from an undiagnosed condition called epilepsy."
Victim's Distinguished Career and Family Tributes
Donna Crossman had served for more than two decades in the Royal Air Force, with a highly successful career that included secondments to the Pentagon near Washington DC and NATO headquarters in Brussels. Following her military service, she found success in sports management, overseeing Wales' national netball and rugby teams.
Her father, Steve Price, described his daughter as "perfect" and "adventurous," saying: "She was wonderful, so caring, so loving... I know everybody says that about their kids, but she really was. She had a good life, she put a lot in, but she had so much more to give. Her circle of friends is massive, and it's affecting everyone."
Police Statement Following Conviction
Following the guilty verdict, Noeli Poupard of Avon and Somerset Police's Serious Collision Investigation Team stated: "This was an incredibly tragic incident which resulted in the death of a much-loved daughter, wife and friend who was on her way out to enjoy her evening with her friends. It was the defence's case that Hodge had suffered an epileptic seizure at the time of the collision."
Poupard continued: "However it appears the jury rejected this idea and felt her lack of care and attention is what caused Mrs Crossman's death. Mrs Crossman's family have endured a great deal of pain over the past 18 months and they have shown great strength and dignity throughout the investigation and trial. My hope is that this result gives them some closure."
Fiona Hodge will be sentenced at a later date following her conviction for causing death by careless driving. During her testimony, Hodge told the court she had "no recollection" of the moments leading up to the crash, though she did recall "an incredible jolt" and telling friends in the car afterward: "I think I may have killed someone."
