Polish driver faces jail after killing pedestrian
A YOUNG driver who knocked down and killed a Rugby woman after speeding past road works early one morning has been convicted of causing her death by dangerous driving.
Polish national Aleksandra Kalinowska had denied causing the death of 54-year-old mother and grandmother Susan Vernon by dangerous driving in October last year.
Her barrister Gregory Fishwick argued: "Have we moved into a blame culture? Sometimes accidents do happen. It was a very tragic accident, but that is all it was."
But the jury at Warwick Crown Court took just 80 minutes to find Kalinowska guilty by a unanimous verdict.
The case was adjourned for a report to be prepared on Kalinowska, who was granted bail with conditions that she lives at her new address in Craven Road, Rugby, and reports to the police once a week.
Judge David McEvoy QC told her: "I must warn you that I shall be contemplating sending you to prison."
At 6.20am on October 3, Mrs. Vernon was crossing Bilton Road on her way back to her home in nearby Sissinghurst Close after buying some milk
when she was hit by Kalinowska's red VW Golf.
Tragically Mrs. Vernon, a married woman with children and grandchildren, suffered multiple internal and external injuries and died at the scene.
Kalinowska had pulled into the centre of the road as she passed some roadworks. She said she did not see Mrs. Vernon until she had hit her - but denied speeding.
Kalinowska claimed she had thought the limit was 40mph on the 30mph stretch of road, but denied she was going anywhere near 50mph.
Asked if something was happening in the car, she replied through an interpreter: "I was not on the phone and I was not changing the radio.
I cannot explain why I did not see her, I just did not." Link
Polish national Aleksandra Kalinowska had denied causing the death of 54-year-old mother and grandmother Susan Vernon by dangerous driving in October last year.
Her barrister Gregory Fishwick argued: "Have we moved into a blame culture? Sometimes accidents do happen. It was a very tragic accident, but that is all it was."
But the jury at Warwick Crown Court took just 80 minutes to find Kalinowska guilty by a unanimous verdict.
The case was adjourned for a report to be prepared on Kalinowska, who was granted bail with conditions that she lives at her new address in Craven Road, Rugby, and reports to the police once a week.
Judge David McEvoy QC told her: "I must warn you that I shall be contemplating sending you to prison."
At 6.20am on October 3, Mrs. Vernon was crossing Bilton Road on her way back to her home in nearby Sissinghurst Close after buying some milk
when she was hit by Kalinowska's red VW Golf.
Tragically Mrs. Vernon, a married woman with children and grandchildren, suffered multiple internal and external injuries and died at the scene.
Kalinowska had pulled into the centre of the road as she passed some roadworks. She said she did not see Mrs. Vernon until she had hit her - but denied speeding.
Kalinowska claimed she had thought the limit was 40mph on the 30mph stretch of road, but denied she was going anywhere near 50mph.
Asked if something was happening in the car, she replied through an interpreter: "I was not on the phone and I was not changing the radio.
I cannot explain why I did not see her, I just did not." Link
posted by BEING HAD at 6:07 PM
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