My mother went the wrong way on the M57 for five miles and killed someone

[ad_1]

A woman who drove the wrong way down a highway has killed a much-loved former school principal in a devastating accident.

Annemarie Kroc’s Renault Clio crashed into Paula Kingdon’s vehicle moments after it failed to reach an oncoming HGV.

The mother of two asserts that she could not explain what she was doing, but today the judge told her, “The consequences of your actions were entirely foreseeable.”

Read more: Council president slams UNESCO ‘fatal mistake’ and supports Everton vision

Croc smashed drivers over a five-mile span at about 9:30 a.m. on October 31, 2019.

The 43-year-old reached speeds of nearly 100mph while driving west on the East Lancashire Road as she passed Wendell Island in St Helens.

At the intersection with Moorgate Road, you entered the lane to turn right, only to continue in the direction of oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the barrier separating the vehicle lanes.

Kroc then blocked off the M57 slipway, nearly hitting the head of a truck before joining the motorway and driving into traffic heading in the opposite direction.

The court heard that the vehicle in front of Kingdon’s Honda Jazz veered off Croke Road, leaving the 64-year-old with no chance of avoiding a collision.

Paula Kingdon was the victim of a fatal crash on the M57

Chris Hopkins, the attorney general, told Liverpool Crown Court that passing drivers used their lights and horns to try to get Croc’s attention.

Shortly before the accident, a witness said, “He could see her hands on the steering wheel. She was looking forward and seemed to be driving firmly.”

Hopkins said Crooke’s intentions remained unclear, but added: “All evidence indicates that this was a premeditated act and the only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that the defendant was attempting to harm herself.”

Kingdon and Croke had to cut down their cars and take them to Aintree Hospital.

Crooke, of Cheviot Street in St Helens, spent time in critical condition but survived.

Read more related articles

When questioned by police, Kroc said she had no recollection of the incident and noted that she had “taken a wrong turn and panicked”.

“The fact that the defendant stuck to this interpretation is something that caused great suffering to members of the victim’s family,” Mr. Hopkins said.

The court heard that Kroc could provide no reason for the batch of photos of highway junctions, bridges and crash scenes retrieved from her mobile phone.

Mr. Hopkins read a powerful statement on behalf of Stephen Sharples, Mrs. Kingdon’s brother.

He detailed the “sympathy” shown by his sister and the positive impact she had on the lives of so many through her work in education.

Paula Kingdon was killed in a crash on the M57

Kingdon was from Merseyside but lived in Sheffield and was the principal of Westfield Infants School, near Chesterfield, in Derbyshire.

She was killed on her way home after visiting her Kirkby-based father-in-law, whom she helped take care of several days a week, and after watching Liverpool FC play.

Mr. Sharples said: “After her lifetime of devoting herself to others, Paula deserved the opportunity to enjoy her retirement… It is sad to me that Paula had this opportunity for a new chapter in her life robbed by senseless actions from before. This stranger.”

Her advocate Sarah Griffin said her client was once “a woman with a positive, good character who has worked her whole life, is clearly dedicated to her children and is someone who can be found regularly helping family, friends and neighbours.”

Griffin said Crook has not driven since the accident and plans to never drive again.

Addressing Ms Kingdon’s family, Judge Garrett Byrne told the court: “No judgment can restore Paula and no judgment can make up for her loss.”

“Your leadership was such that it was difficult to think of a more serious case,” the judge told Crook.

He said, “In my view, the collision could more properly be described as an intentional act. You must have realized at the time that your driving would have caused at least some serious harm, if not death, to someone.”

A letter Kroc wrote to Judge Byrne ended with her claiming that she had “no explanation” for her actions.

He highlighted the evidence that Kroc made no attempt to avoid an accident, concluding that it was not “a case of taking a wrong turn and then panicking, it was deliberate behaviour”.

The judge added that if Kroc’s intent was to harm herself, it was “extremely selfish because you were willing to harm or kill others” in achieving that goal.

Crooke admitted to causing death by dangerous driving.

She was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison and banned from driving for three years after her release.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sports and what’s on updates from Liverpool ECHO by registering here

Read more related articles Read more related articles.

[ad_2]