A driver has been jailed for killing a farmer on a quad bike after being distracted by her phone for a matter of seconds. Ami Dronsfield, a mum-of-two, was on her way to a hair appointment from her home in Glanton, Northumberland, to Alnwick when the collision took place in November 2024.
She was driving a VW Golf heading south on the A697 at Whittingham and became distracted by her phone, which meant she was unable to see Michael Armstrong's quad bike in time. Her car collided with his vehicle, causing him catastrophic injuries.
Victim's final journey
Mr Armstrong, 58, had been on his way to check on his elderly and house-bound father when the crash took place. He was taken to the RVI in Newcastle, where he was placed in an induced coma and remained on life support for 11 days. His family remained by his bedside and "prayed for a miracle" but then had to make the difficult decision to turn off his life support following medical advice.
Now Dronsfield, 36, a single mother of two young children, of West Turnpike, in Glanton, near Alnwick, has been jailed after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. At Newcastle Crown Court, she was handed a sentence of three years and two months.
Phone activity before crash
It was said she had not created, sent or received any messages or calls during the seven seconds her phone had been active. However, the phone had been unlocked and both WhatsApp and Snapchat had been active for a brief period. Judge Robert Adams said it would have been dark at the time and the light from the phone would have been distracting.
The court was told 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.
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. 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".
Family's devastation
The court heard a heartbreaking statement from Mr Armstrong's family, describing their devastation. Speaking in court, 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.
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.
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." She further said: "I regret my actions more than words can express", before adding it was "a guilt I will never overcome".
Passing sentence, Judge Adams said: "Nothing I can say and no sentence that I can pass will begin to make up for the loss suffered by Michael Armstrong's family and friends. I'm well aware that the sentence is far too low but the sentence will be in accordance with the law."
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.
