Smith, who had been on duty at Airedale Hospital, was a diabetic who said she checked her blood sugar levels before she set off and they were “totally fine.”
But she began to feel unwell with hyperglycaemia and ignored the clear indications that she should not be driving, Mr Stranex told Bradford Crown Court.
She drove on and off the pavement before the crash and was described as having “a glazed expression.”
Most of the nurses I've seen have that permanently...
She veered in the road and was said to have been going too fast.
Mr Stranex told the court her driving record included “bumps” and she had attended a speed awareness course.
Which is rather a weasel way of saying 'was previously caught speeding', isn't it?
As usual, these people never seem to harm
themselves, only innocent other drivers or pedestrians:
Mr Ellison, who had enjoyed mountain biking and tennis, spent 20 weeks in hospital and said in his victim personal statement that at times, he wanted to die.
He had been a DIY enthusiast but now couldn’t even change a lightbulb.
“The driver has devastated my life and that of my family,” he said.
No, no, Mr Ellison, you've not understood who is the
real victim here....
Tom Gent said in mitigation: “This was a tragic and awful incident.”
Smith had been a nurse for 23 years and driving since 1989.
She was racked with guilt and utterly devastated by the dreadful injuries she had caused.
But Mr Gent conceded she had not been attending for specialist diabetic reviews and should have known she was unfit to drive that evening.
Testimonials spoke of her as compassionate and caring and “an extremely kind woman.”
The effect on her was “exceptionally acute” and her mental health problems had been exacerbated.
Last November she attempted to take her own life after experiencing nightmares and high levels of anxiety, and being overwhelmed by guilt.
She's a nurse. Surely she's best placed to make a good job of taking her own life?
So why is she still here?
Smith, 47, of East Hill Street, Barnoldswick, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 300 hours of unpaid work. She was banned from driving for five years and until she takes an extended retest.
'Keeping death off the road'...for a while.
“You could go to prison for a million years and it wouldn’t change anything,” Judge Rose said.
Smith had made a “deliberate and determined” attempt on own life and he feared for her health if she was sent immediately to prison.
Clearly, she's a lousy nurse as well as a lousy driver, if she couldn't do that right either.
