An 86-year-old pensioner was killed in a car park accident in Nottingham after a driver ran her over while pulling out of an Iceland store. The victim, Maureen Sanderson, was wearing her favourite pink coat and waving to thank the driver for letting her cross, before being struck and fatally injured.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at 2:06pm on Monday, October 13, last year, at the exit of the Iceland car park on Nuthall Road, Cinderhill. Tracie Spowage, 58, of Basford, was driving a white Nissan Juke. Footage played at Nottingham Crown Court showed Mrs Sanderson walking in front of the car and waving to thank Spowage. Seconds later, Spowage pulled forward, knocking Mrs Sanderson to the ground and running her over.
Prosecution and Injuries
Prosecutor Phil Cowburn stated that Mrs Sanderson suffered a deep skull fracture and was taken to Queen's Medical Centre, where she died two days later. A post-mortem revealed injuries predominantly to the right side of her body.
Court Proceedings
Spowage was handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for one year. Judge Steven Coupland remarked: "Maureen Sanderson was described as a woman with a zest for life and with more life to live. She was in your sight for a considerable amount of time, and she was there to be seen before you pulled out. You are here because you did not see her."
The judge noted that Spowage was not under the influence of alcohol or distracted by her mobile phone, but said she was not looking properly. Spowage had described her driving as "very careful" but admitted she was not looking at pedestrians because she was focused on the road to pull out.
Family Impact
Mrs Sanderson's family described her as "a strong lady with a zest for life" and a mother and grandmother who will be missed immensely. The court heard that she was wearing her favourite pink coat at the time of the incident.
