A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Markham, Caerphilly, as Charlotte Symons, 40, was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail for causing the death of Sandra Chamberlain, 67. Symons struck Mrs. Chamberlain with a Nissan Navara while driving over a roundabout. The tragic accident occurred in December 2022 when Mrs. Chamberlain was out posting Christmas cards.
Symons, a mother-of-two from Blackwood, Caerphilly county, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. In addition to the prison sentence, she was banned from driving for nine years and four months.
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The court heard that Symons failed to brake on her return from a shopping trip, colliding with Mrs. Chamberlain, who had been walking to the shops to post Christmas cards. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Mrs. Chamberlain succumbed to her injuries eight days later.
Footage presented in court showed the devastating moment when Symons’ car struck Mrs. Chamberlain, who was clearly visible in a bright red jacket. Symons, who cut across the mini-roundabout on her way home, admitted her failure to see Mrs. Chamberlain.
Gareth James, prosecuting, emphasized that Mrs. Chamberlain would have been visible to other road users. He explained that Symons, instead of going the right way around the roundabout, entered it on the wrong side, ultimately running over Mrs. Chamberlain.
In a victim impact statement, Mrs. Chamberlain’s daughter, Stacey Hoskin, expressed the family’s profound loss and emphasized the responsibility of drivers to ensure road safety. Symons, upon viewing CCTV evidence, admitted her complacency in undercutting the roundabout on previous occasions.
James Findon, defending, acknowledged that Symons wished she could turn back time. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, while recognizing the brevity of Symons’ dangerous driving, held her accountable for the death of a much-loved wife, mother, and grandmother. The tragedy has left Mrs. Chamberlain’s family grappling with the irreplaceable void caused by the loss.