Witham: Crash death driver spared prison sentence (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Witham: Crash death driver spared prison sentence

3:24pm Friday 31st August 2012 in Local News

A driver who admitted causing his wife's death by careless driving has been spared jail.

Simon Aylott, 34, was driving along the northbound carriageway of the A12 at Witham when his Toyota RAV4 struck a lorry.

His wife Rachel Aylott, 38, died in the collision, while the driver and three other passengers were seriously injured.

The group were returning from a holiday in New York when the crash happened near the Coleman's Bridge slip-road at about 10am on March 30 last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard today that Aylott, of Holland Road, Little Clacton, had lost concentration and alertness.

He struck the lorry as it slowed down to turn off the A12.

Aylott admitted causing death by careless driving and was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years, given a 12-month supervision order and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.