Judge spares death crash driver jail

Marc Canning, aged 26, of Boscawen Way, Thatcham, who pleaded guilty to one count of death by careless driving, drove his Peugeot 206 straight across the Hoe Benham/Boxford junction of the B4000 (PICTURED) where it collided with another car on October 4 last year, Reading Crown Court heard last Friday (August 24).
Mr Canning’s 21-year-old sister-in-law, Emily Tear of Horne Road, Thatcham, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where she was treated for brain injuries but died on January 19 this year.
Mr Canning was hospitalised for over a week with eight broken ribs, a broken shoulder bone and a broken spleen.
Prosecutor, Simon Heptonstall told the court the accident may have been caused by a misunderstanding between Mr Canning and Miss Tear, but said there are a number of give way signs on the approach to the junction.
“Miss Tear told him to go straight on. He may have misinterpreted that. He went straight into the road and collided with a Bentley,” Mr Heptonshall said.
A number of statements made by Miss Tear’s family were read out in court.
Miss Tear’s father, Alan, said: “None of the family blame Marc for Emily’s death and we know how much he has suffered.
“Emily was very fond of Marc and I’m sure it would also be her wish that Marc is treated leniently.”
However, Emily’s mother, Debbie, said she was angry with Mr Canning over her daughter’s death.
“The word sorry has never passed his lips to me. I’ve been totally crushed by his attitude towards me.
“I still believe it was avoidable,” she added.
Miss Tear’s sister, Pamela, who is married to Mr Canning, said Emily often boasted about how great her brother-in-law was.
Mrs Canning added: “Watching Emily die was undoubtedly the worst moment of my life.”
Neil Guest, defending, said his client would take the memory of the accident to his grave.
“The way that road is laid out seduces one into thinking it’s a straight road.
“To say that he is absolutely devastated by what happened to his sister-in-law would be an understatement,” Mr Guest added.
On sentencing Mr Canning to 150 hours unpaid work and a two year driving ban, His Honour Judge John Reddihough said: “No sentence any court imposes can ever make up for or replace the loss of a young life. You will be punished for the rest of your life simply by the memory of what happened.
“I can understand in a matter of seconds how you could have made the mistake you did - you thought the road continued ahead.
“I now hope for you and all the members of Emily’s family that this will act as some closure on the tragic events that happened that day.”
*The Hoe Benham/Boxford junction on the B4000 became notorious in the late 1980s and 1990s after a number of accidents.
In 1989 Florence Halls, aged 85, of Stockcross, and Joan Mackey, aged 67, of Donnington Square, Newbury, died following a collision at the site on June 13.
Mrs Halls and Mrs Mackey were passengers in a car driven by Mirian Lansley, aged 80, of Castle Grove, Newbury, who was critically injured in the accident.