A 96-year-old woman has received an 18-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to causing the death of another woman by dangerous driving. June Mills, from Ainsdale in Merseyside, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday for the incident that occurred in August last year.
Mills admitted to causing the death of Brenda Joyce, 76, in Formby, after her car mounted the pavement and struck Joyce and another pedestrian. Ms. Joyce was pronounced dead at the scene on Elbow Lane, while an 80-year-old woman who was also hit suffered slight injuries.
The court heard that the tragic incident happened when Mills applied too much pressure to the accelerator pedal while driving her Vauxhall Corsa, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and mount the kerb. She accepted that her driving was below the normal standard expected of a competent driver.
Tom Gent, who defended Mills, explained to the court, “The accelerator pedal fell down beneath her foot, she panicked and failed to react to that.” He added that Mills’ mobility had deteriorated significantly since the incident, noting she was only able to walk a few paces and was unlikely to be fit for unpaid work as part of any potential sentence.
June Mills is thought to be one of the oldest people in the UK to be convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. Given her age and medical condition, she was handed an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
The incident has raised further questions about age and competency in driving, with some calls for stricter assessments for elderly drivers. The family of Brenda Joyce has not yet commented publicly on the sentencing outcome.
The incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with dangerous driving and the tragic consequences that can result.
