Great-grandmother caused devastating injuries to motorcyclist she failed to spot
A great-grandmother caused devastating injuries to a motorcyclist who she crashed into after failing to spot him on the road.
Eleanor Patrick, 76, pulled her Toyota Yaris out onto a single carriageway road near Elsdon in Northumberland and struck the victim, who was travelling back from the Scottish borders on a vintage Honda.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the rider, an army vet in his 60s, spent ten days in hospital with serious injuries, including fractures, that required surgery.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad said: "She drove without due care and attention, pulling out onto the road and failing to see the oncoming complainant on his motorbike."In an impact statement, the injured man said he was employed as a site manager at the time of the crash in April 2023 but had to stop working because of his injuries, which he said are "life changing" for him and his family.
He added: "This impacts our life every hour of every day."
Patrick, of Elsdon, Northumberland, admitted causing serious injury by careless driving.The court heard Patrick has dedicated her life to teaching, volunteering and making positive contributions to society and has been "devastated" by what happened that day.
Character references spoke "extremely high" of Patrick.
Judge Gavin Doig sentenced her to nine weeks, suspended for 12 months, with a 12 month road ban and told her: "You have made positive contributions to society over your long life and I accept you have been extremely concerned about the outcome."