Sheriff: The circumstances (of the crash) have never satisfactorily been explained
Ally McGilvray • Published 17 Jan 2012 09:30
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THE family of an office worker from Galashiels killed during a driving lesson in the Borders have spoken of their anger this week after the careless driver convicted of causing the crash avoided a prison sentence.
Twenty-two-year-old Suzanne Harkness was driving on the A6091 road near Melrose, accompanied by her driving instructor James Egan, when a car driven in the opposite direction by 55-year-old teaching assistant Patricia Aitken crossed the road and smashed into them on August 26, 2009.
She was rushed to nearby Borders General Hospital but died from her injuries. And her driving instructor was seriously injured.
Aitken, of High Street, Melrose, had initially denied a charge of careless driving, claiming a low calorie diet caused her to black out moments before the crash.
But she later admitted the charge and on Friday last week, more than two years after the smash, the teaching assistant - who has vowed never to drive again - was sentenced to 240 hours community service and given a five-year driving ban.
Speaking after the court case, Suzanne's sister Melissa Harkness said: "I think she (Aitken) should have been jailed for what she did to my sister. She was an amazing person and my best friend and I just think it's wrong.
"It's like my sister's life meant nothing and sends out a message to all other drivers they can go out and kill somebody and they will just get community service."
The court heard "the circumstances (of the crash) have never satisfactorily been explained". And Suzanne's family revealed they were still awaiting an apology.
Suzanne's sister Sarah Reid said: "We are so upset that the justice system thinks community service is justice for careless driving and causing Suzanne's death and that this has dragged out for so long." And she added: "At no point at all has she (Aitken) tried to say sorry to us."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 17 Jan 12
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