Express & Star

Mavis Storey: Pensioner died after driver on the wrong side of the road ploughed into her

A driver caused the death of an elderly pedestrian after ploughing into her as he tried to cut the corner at a busy Walsall junction, a court heard.

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Mavis Storey

Jamie Platt, aged 27, shot off at traffic lights at the junction of Bloxwich Road and Leamore Lane, swerving right to beat oncoming traffic.

But as he turned he hit 88-year-old Mavis Storey who was thrown into the air by the impact, landing at the side of the road a few feet away. The pensioner was just yards from her home.

The original charge of causing death by dangerous driving was dropped after CCTV footage failed to prove he moved away when the lights showed amber.

Platt, of Halford Crescent, Coalpool, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Robert Price, prosecuting, said it was initially thought that the lights were on amber when Platt drove off in his a silver-coloured VW Golf in August 13, 2016.

But a 'more refined' examination of the CCTV film by an accident reconstruction expert revealed the lights 'may well have been on green.'

"However in the course of turning right into Bloxwich Road he deliberately cut the corner and was driving on the wrong side of the road for a short time when he came into contact with Mavis Storey, which tragically resulted in her death," said Mr Price.

Hasty

Mr Price added: "He set off to beat the traffic lights when turning right, knowing that would require a quick getaway, and decided to cut the corner. His actions were hasty.

"Mrs Storey was crossing the road and he failed to see her. If he had been on the right side of the road, he may not have hit her. The decision to cut the corner was flawed."

Judge John Wait, sitting as a Deputy Circuit Judge, adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Following the accident, Mrs Storey was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Harborne, Birmingham, with critical injuries but was pronounced dead later that day.

She was described by her family as ‘a loving mother and sister who will be dearly missed’ in tributes released by West Midlands Police.

Platt, whose bail was continued, will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on February 12 for sentencing.