Lack of driver experience led to minibus tragedy

A newly qualified driver's lack of experience behind the wheel of a care home's minibus contributed to the crash which led to the death of an elderly occupant, a judge ruled.

Single mother-of-three Kelly Blundell passed her test 10 months before the tragedy that followed a "momentary" misjudgement and cost the life of 79-year-old Sam Dangerfield, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

The victim was being taken shopping when the minibus hit a tree in Hollyhedge Road, West Bromwich on March 24 last year.

Blundell, who was a 34-year-old care worker at the Dagger Lane Care Tech home where Mr Dangerfield was a resident, lost control at 20 mph while checking mirrors.

Prosecutor Nigel Wilkins said: "She was leaning forward to look past passengers to see the left hand wing mirror when this happened.

"She was a reluctant driver and was not keen to drive the mini bus.

"She was not forced to do it but felt pressurised and did so after words of encouragement."

Blundell had driven the minibus before the crash but was on an unfamiliar route after the care home phoned a colleague she was travelling with to tell them to pick up another resident from Walsall on the way back from shopping with Mr Dangerfield, the court heard.

He received chest and liver injuries in the accident and subsequently contracted pneumonia that led to his death at Sandwell District Hospital on March 31.

Bernard Porter, defending Blundell, said: "She is absolutely mortified by what has happened."

The family of Mr Dangerfield commented in a victim impact statement read in court: "We miss Sam terribly. We did not see him every day but he was well liked and we visited him every week."

Blundell from Ely Crescent, Hateley Heath, admitted causing death by careless driving and was given a 12 month supervision order, told to do 100 hours unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months after which she must pass an extended test.