Paignton driver struck teenager crossing icy traffic junction

A driver has been sentenced for injuring a teenager crossing a busy road in Paignton[1]. Kirsty Shears was behind the wheel of a car which hit the 16-year-old girl at Tweenaway junction. She suffered a fractured pelvis and a number of other injuries in the collision.

The trauma has had a lasting psychological impact on her and she is still frightened of walking near traffic, a court heard. Shears, aged, 47, was turning right onto Totnes Road but failed to notice the girl crossing the road. Exeter[2] Crown Court heard it was a "momentary lapse of concentration". Devon town demands vote on its future as locals 'ignored'[3]

Legendary actor Joss Ackland dies, aged 95[4] The defendant, of Northleat Avenue, Paignton, pleaded guilty to causing injury by careless driving. She was given a community order and disqualified from driving for a year.

The incident happened at 8.45am on December 12, 2022. Road conditions at the four-way junction were icy and the collision captured on CCTV. Shears drove down King's Ash Road and turned right.

She failed to notice the girl crossing from a traffic island and knocked her to the floor. Shears said the lights were green when she turned right and she was not travelling fast when she struck a girl with her hood up and wearing ear pods. She stayed at the scene until emergency services arrived.

The girl said in a statement she is now anxious and panics whenever she is near traffic. She has PTSD and is in pain on a daily basis. She suffered bruising to her back, thigh and a wound to her head as well as the fracture.

Shears is a person of previous good character and feels deep distress about what happened, said Mr Martin Salloway in mitigation. Mr Justice Saini KC said it was an isolated incident that was clearly very traumatic for everyone involved. He imposed a community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Shears must pay GBP1,200 costs and GBP1,000 compensation.

References

1. ^ Paignton (www.devonlive.com)
2. ^ Exeter (www.devonlive.com)
3. ^ Devon town demands vote on its future as locals 'ignored' (www.devonlive.com)
4. ^ Legendary actor Joss Ackland dies, aged 95 (www.devonlive.com)