Mum killed son in cattle lorry crash after reckless move
A mum who caused the death of her young son in a car crash has been jailed. Barbara Roe, while attempting to overtake a Ford Transit van on a blind left-hand bend, crashed into a cattle transporter travelling in the opposite direction. Nine-year-old Zac Roe was inside the vehicle at the time.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the defendant had been driving a grey Citroen DS9 on Monday, March 24, 2024, on the A354 near East Woodyates, North Dorset. Witnesses described the car travelling at speed and attempting to overtake other vehicles ahead of the crash. At 5.21pm, Dorset Police were informed of a crash between the grey Citroen, a white Ford Transit and a DAF cattle transporter truck and trailer.
Roe, 39, tried to overtake the van as she approached a blind left-hand bend and crossed into the white solid road markings. The cattle transponder was travelling in the opposite directions and the vehicles crashed as it rounded the bend. Members of the public provided first aid at the scene before emergency services arrived but, despite their efforts, Zac was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
His mother was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be serious. Paying tribute to the little boy, Zac's father and his paternal grandparents said: "We want to pay tribute to this much-loved boy. His father adored him, as did we.
"He was a popular boy who had many friends. He had an amazing imagination. He just loved making things out of Lego, twigs, cardboard, string and Sellotape.
Just the same as his dad did when he was Zac's age. "He was talented at drawing and spent many hours adding detail to whatever he drew. We called him nature boy as he loved being outdoors, making dens, riding his bike and scooter, playing parkour and army games.
"He just loved life. He was always smiling. He should be here now enjoying his life.
"Money has been raised and there in now a therapy dog named after Zac. This is Zac's legacy as he loved dogs. If anyone one would like to donate in Zac's memory please go to the 'Dogs for Health' Facebook page.
"We will never stop loving him. "The good memories are too hard to think about yet. But when we are ready to remember them, we will know how much he loved his short life, which was brutally taken away.
"No one will ever forget our wonderful Zac. Our grief will last until our last breath." Roe, of Ludgershall in Wiltshire, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, May 2 after previously admitting an offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
She was sentenced to five years in prison. She was also disqualified from driving for a period of seven and a half years. Police Constable Gavin Newbury, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team (SCIT), said: "This tragic case is the cruellest of reminders of the truly devastating consequences that sadly occur when motorists drive in a dangerous or reckless manner.
"Our thoughts are absolutely with Zac's loved ones, who have been supported by specially trained officers throughout.
While we fully appreciate nothing will ever make up for their loss, our role has been to diligently investigate the circumstances of this collision and bring the evidence before the courts to allow the justice process to follow its course."