A single mum-of-two has been jailed for killing a farmer after she crashed into his quad bike while looking at her phone. Ami Dronsfield, 36, of West Turnpike, in Glanton, Northumberland, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Dronsfield was driving a VW Golf to a hair appointment when she became distracted by her phone and crashed into Michael Armstrong's quad bike, causing catastrophic injuries. Her phone had been active for seven seconds. She was driving south on the A697 at Whittingham and failed to spot the quad bike in time.
Phone activity details
The court was told that Dronsfield had not created, sent or received any messages or calls while her phone was active, but the device had been unlocked and both WhatsApp and Snapchat had been active for a brief period, according to Chronicle Live. Judge Robert Adams said it would have been dark at the time and the light from the phone would have been distracting.
An investigation of her phone revealed it had been active on two occasions, both times for just seconds. At 4.59pm that day, the device was unlocked. WhatsApp was opened by pressing an icon and then closed before the phone was locked again. The phone was illuminated again at 5.02pm, unlocked by pin code or facial recognition. Snapchat was activated briefly, for seconds, before the collision.
The car's emergency brake was applied two seconds before the crash. During the time the device was active, no messages had been prepared, created, sent or received on any of the apps, and no calls had been made or received.
Family's devastation
The court heard that Dronsfield called 999 and appeared to be in shock after the crash. She was heard saying: "Oh my God, what if I've killed him." She tested negative for alcohol and drugs. Judge Adams accepted it was "a very short period of distraction but with fatal consequences" and there was "no question that she failed to see the quad bike during that time".
A statement from Mr Armstrong's family described their devastation. Mrs Armstrong explained how her husband had left to see his elderly father that evening, saying "I'm off, I'll see you soon". Those were his last words to her. After hearing about the crash, Mrs Armstrong and her son made their way to the collision site and saw a scene that was "beyond horrific". Mrs Armstrong said "time will never erase that horrific scene" after she saw that "in the wreckage was my beautiful husband Michael". She had been with her husband for 28 years and described him as her best friend and soul mate.
Remorse and sentence
At his bedside in hospital, the family "prayed for a miracle which deep down they knew wouldn't happen". They said their goodbyes to Mr Armstrong on his son's 21st birthday. The court was told that Dronsfield, who was of previous good character and had worked for Northumberland County Council for 17 years, was deeply remorseful for the "devastating impact my actions have had" and wished she could turn back time. She said in a letter: "I'm truly ashamed and sorry beyond words" and pointed out "how quickly one mistake can have such devastating consequences".
Dronsfield was given three years and two months in prison, of which she will serve 19 months in custody before being released on licence. She was also disqualified from driving for six years and seven months.
