‘You can’t have missed that red light. It must have been obvious that you were driving dangerously’
Dangerous driver Leanne McBeth(Image: Hull Live)
A woman crashed her car straight into the back of another vehicle as it waited in a queue at red traffic lights – but then shamelessly drove off again and collided with a second vehicle that was heading towards her in the opposite direction. Mother-of-two Leanne McBeth “did not have the decency to stop, speak, apologise even, and make sure everybody in that vehicle was safe”.
The driver of the second vehicle had to be taken to hospital after the “terrifying” crash and the incident left him in pain and caused “massive inconvenience” to others, Hull Crown Court heard. McBeth, 35, of Wittys Paddock, Seaton, near Hornsea, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report the incident and having no insurance on October 4 last year.
Poppy Walker, prosecuting, said that McBeth was driving a Vauxhall Corsa car on Seaton Road, Hornsea, towards Hornsea at about 8pm. There were ongoing roadworks, one lane was closed and there were temporary traffic lights.
There was a line of four vehicles waiting at red traffic lights, including an Audi A1 driven by a man, with his daughter as the front seat passenger. McBeth’s car hit the back of the Audi, causing it to jolt forward into the back of another vehicle.
Those involved got out and McBeth and the man exchanged a few details but agreed to meet up again in Hornsea because it would be easier there. A Range Rover was waiting at the other end of the traffic lights.
Inside the Range Rover were a man, his nephew and his nephew’s friend. As the temporary traffic lights turned green, he drove forward. McBeth returned to her car, drove through the red lights and started driving towards the ongoing Range Rover.
The other driver pulled slightly into the coned-off area to give more room but he realised that there was no way of avoiding McBeth’s car. Her car hit the side of the Range Rover “all the way down”.
There would have been a head-on crash if he had not taken some avoiding action. The air bags in his vehicle went off. “She just did not see the red Range Rover despite having ample time in clear visibility,” said Miss Walker.
“The Range Rover was heading towards her in a single line. The defendant deliberately ignored the rules of the road.
“She did drive through a temporary red traffic light and had a disregard of the dangers to others.” McBeth branded her own driving “cr*p” during police interview.
She had two male passengers in her car. “All three of them walked off in the direction of Hornsea,” said Miss Walker. An ambulance and the police arrived and the driver of the Range Rover was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary.
He suffered bruises to his face, arm and body. The loss he was caused for the car was £6,000 and it was taken away by a recovery vehicle.
The man later said: “This incident has changed the way I drive and the way I feel about driving.” McBeth had previous convictions for criminal damage in 2010 and being drunk and disorderly in 2011.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that McBeth made full and frank admissions during police interview. “She handed herself in to the police station the day after the incident,” said Miss Turner.
“She is deeply remorseful. There does seem to be an element of her struggling to recall the details of the incident. She finds it easier to block out what has happened.”
McBeth had two sons, aged 11 and nine. She was not working. “She wants to get back into employment,” said Miss Turner.
Recorder Geraldine Kelly KC told McBeth: “You can’t have missed that red light. It must have been obvious that you were driving dangerously.”
The lives of others in the second car were put in danger and the driver was taken to hospital and was in pain. “It must have been terrifying,” said Recorder Kelly.
“You were seen staggering off. You did not have the decency to stop, speak, apologise even, and make sure everybody in that vehicle was safe.
“Your driving caused significant damage, financial loss, injury and massive inconvenience to those who you collided with. The police had to find out who you were because you didn’t stop at the scene.”
Recorder Kelly said that she had “suspicions” that the reason that McBeth did not stop was because of drink or drugs. “There was a deliberate decision by you to ignore the rules of the road,” said Recorder Kelly.
McBeth was given a 14-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation. She was banned from driving for two years and she must pass an extended retest before she can drive legally again.
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