Man sentenced after fatal M4 collision

Christopher Scarle, of Bridgwater, Somerset, was sentenced for causing death by careless driving in June last year

A 53-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced for causing death by careless driving in relation to a fatal road traffic accident on the M4 at Tidmarsh in June last year.

Christopher Scarle, of Wemdon Rise in Bridgwater, Somerset, was driving a silver Audi on the M4 between junctions 13 and 12 on June 12, 2010, when he collided with the back of a Vauxhall Astra being driven by 80-year-old Dennis Scott, of Woodley.

Mr Scott died at the scene and his wife Catherine, aged 84, who was sat in the front seat of the Astra, was left seriously injured and in need of long-term care.

Last month, Mr Scarle was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at Reading Crown Court, although he had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

The court heard that Mr Scott was in lane one of the motorway when his car's head gasket failed, but that as his car lost speed, Mr Scarle failed to react to the situation and collided with the back of the Astra at 76 miles per hour, pushing the vehicle across the carriageway and into the central reservation.

And today (Thursday), Mr Scarle was sentenced to a 140-hour community service order to be completed within 12 months, disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £350 costs.

Following the hearing, Mr Scott's sons Neil and Ian, said: “We are pleased at the outcome of the sentence hearing today.

“Nothing will compensate us for the tragic loss of our father or for the injuries sustained by our mother. After an active life, she is now effectively paralysed and totally reliant on others for all her daily needs and it is unlikely that she will ever leave the nursing home.”

The pair thanked everyone who had helped their mother and the roads policing unit at Thames Valley Police for their support since the incident, although they added: “Sadly, the people at the scene of the accident were unable to save our father.”

The two sons added that this chapter was now closed and that they now needed to continue to support their mother and look after her affairs.

Sgt Paul Coleman, of the roads policing unit at Three Mile Cross, said: "This case reminds us of the dangers associated with driving and the consequences when standards of driving below what is required.

“In this case, as a result of the driver failing to react to events ahead, a family has lost their father, and their mother has suffered serious injuries which have changed her life and their lives forever.”