The devastated family of a grandmother killed in a low-speed crash were forced to leave the courtroom as distressing video footage was shown. Linda Wareham, 77, died after being struck by a car driven by Joan Barwick, then aged 94, as she crossed the entrance of a petrol station with her dog.
The incident occurred on April 17 last year at a petrol station on Hagley Road in Oldswinford. Barwick, driving a red Vauxhall Corsa, was not paying attention and failed to see Mrs Wareham. Despite the vehicle traveling at just 10mph, Mrs Wareham suffered catastrophic head injuries and died the next day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after her life support was turned off.
Court proceedings
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, prosecutor Tim Harrington stated that Barwick had seven seconds to see Mrs Wareham before the collision but was focused on an available disabled parking space. He said, "She was driving at an appropriate speed and had slowed down to 10mph but that should have meant she would see any pedestrian crossing her path, so Mrs Barwick was simply not looking at what was in front of her."
Mrs Wareham's tearful husband and daughter left the courtroom as the CCTV footage of the crash was played. Barwick, now 95, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced on April 24 to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Impact on family
The family's distress was evident as they could not bear to watch the footage of the tragic incident. The court heard that Barwick's lack of attention had fatal consequences, with the low speed making the incident all the more tragic as she could have stopped had she been looking.
