Driver’s tears at road tragedy

Naomi Jones, 19, from Wesham, admits blame for Elysia Ashworth’s death through careless driving but denies she drove 
dangerously.

Jones, who had been close friends with Miss Ashworth since they were 13, had passed her driving test four months before the accident.

Prosecutors say Jones drove “too fast” as her Vauxhall Corsa approached a blind left bend on Division Lane, Marton, on July 11 last year.

Miss Ashworth, 17, from St Annes, died two days later in hospital after she sustained serious injuries in the collision.

Giving evidence, a tearful Jones said she failed to negotiate the bend in Division Lane after she hit two bumps in the road in quick succession.

She said she thought she had been travelling at between 30mph and 40mph but could not remember her exact speed.

She also said she could not remember if she braked or slowed down when she hit the bumps in the road.

In a statement to police several months after the crash, Jones, who is undergoing counselling and psychotherapy after she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, said: “There has not been a day since the accident that I have not thought about the accident and Elly.

“I have been left completely devastated by the consequences of this accident but I know whatever I am going through does not compare to the suffering felt by Elly’s family and my thoughts are with them always.”

She confirmed those feelings remained the same in court yesterday.

The jury had previously heard a 30mph speed limit sign should have been in place on the approach to the accident scene but had previously been knocked into a ditch.

(Proceeding)

Click here to read other stories on this case:

SPEED CLAIM IN FATAL CRASH