Personal trainer and CrossFit athlete Megan Murphy, 26, has been sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of a vulnerable man by dangerous driving. Murphy ran over Darryl Tomlinson, 31, on a one-way road in Marsh Green, Wigan, in the early hours of January 9 last year. After driving over him, she reversed and drove over him again.
Details of the Incident
Murphy, formerly of Kitt Green Road, now of Lord Street, Ince, spent only a few seconds attempting to defrost her windscreen before driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Tomlinson had collapsed in the middle of the road after a night out drinking with friends. CCTV footage showed Murphy driving blindly with a thick layer of ice on her windscreen.
After the collision, Murphy lied to officers, claiming, 'I didn't see him', and told a friend she had 'reversed over him'. While Tomlinson was still beneath her vehicle, she called him a 'smackhead', the court heard.
Emergency Services Failure
Neighbors had called 999 upon spotting Tomlinson earlier, but due to an incorrect address, neither police nor paramedics attended the scene. The court described this as 'an awful twist of fate'. Tomlinson died in the street.
Murphy pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced on June 24 at Bolton Crown Court. Judge Nicholas Clarke KC stated, 'CCTV footage records you for three seconds attempting to defrost your windscreen. This was hopelessly inadequate. You were driving blind.'
Defense Mitigation
John Dove, representing Murphy, said she had a previously good character and a spotless driving record. 'Quite frankly she is devastated to find herself in this situation, particularly in such life changing circumstances. To say she is a broken woman is an understatement,' he said.
Dove explained that Murphy initially thought she had hit something from a building site or a kerb, and in a panic, she continued driving. She later realized she had hit Tomlinson, whom she thought was an animal. Murphy apologized for her derogatory comment, made while 'in a highly stressed state'.
Prosecution Details
Prosecutor Rob Hall told the court that Murphy had a habit of driving the wrong way down one-way Pembroke Road to save time. On the night of the incident, Tomlinson had been drinking and had likely taken cocaine and cannabis. CCTV showed him stumbling and collapsing at around 3.19am.
At 5.05am, a neighbor called an ambulance, but the address was incorrectly recorded. At 5.44am, Murphy attempted to defrost her windscreen for just a few seconds. At 5.48am, she drove over Tomlinson, reversed, and ran over him again. Bystanders were waving and shouting, and a taxi driver sounded his horn.
Forensic Evidence
A post-mortem examination revealed numerous bruises and abrasions. The cause of death was chest injuries and acute alcohol toxicity, though Judge Clarke noted alcohol was not a cause but accelerated his condition.
Detective Constable Carl Boydell from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said, 'This was a truly tragic and entirely avoidable incident. Motorists have a responsibility to always follow the rules of the road and to ensure their vehicle is safe before setting off.'
