A sorrowful twist of fate unfolded when Raymond Bastable, 78, who accidentally struck an elderly woman outside Tesco Express, lost his terminally ill wife on the very same day the victim, 85-year-old Joan Heaton, passed away in hospital.
Bastable was reversing his Citroen Berlingo slowly out of a disabled parking bay in Kingswinford when he hit Mrs. Heaton, who had paused in his blind spot. The incident occurred as he had stepped out briefly to buy bread while his wife received end-of-life care at home. In shock, Bastable immediately expressed remorse, stating, “I just hit her, I’m sorry, I did not see her.”
After the accident, he stayed at the scene to assist Mrs. Heaton, shared his contact details with her daughter, and urged them to seek medical attention. Despite this, Mrs. Heaton succumbed to her injuries five days later, dying of a respiratory infection caused by multiple fractures from the collision.
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During the court proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, it was revealed that a wheelchair ramp installed on Bastable’s vehicle to accommodate his wife had restricted his view while reversing. CCTV footage showed Mrs. Heaton walking slowly and stopping in the car park, waiting for her daughter to move their car. Bastable reversed his vehicle about one-and-a-half to two car lengths before the collision occurred.
Mrs. Heaton’s daughter recounted hearing a sudden yelp at the moment Bastable’s vehicle struck her mother. Despite immediate help and hospital admission, Mrs. Heaton’s condition worsened rapidly, reflecting the severity of her injuries compounded by pre-existing health issues.
Bastable, a former hospital porter with no previous convictions and almost 50 years of driving experience, expressed condolences to Mrs. Heaton’s family. The daughter acknowledged Bastable as a “genuine, caring person” and stated that the family holds no malice towards him despite the tragedy.
Defence counsel Astakhar Ahmed emphasized the accident was a tragic mistake occurring within seconds, with Bastable remaining at the scene and assisting the victim. However, Judge Michael Chambers KC highlighted that Bastable performed an unsafe maneuver by reversing when he could not see properly, stressing the high duty of care required by drivers.
Bastable pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. On July 21, he received a 10-month suspended sentence over two years and a three-year driving ban, reflecting the serious consequences while acknowledging mitigating circumstances.
This deeply unfortunate case underscores the vital importance of vigilance in driving, especially in shared spaces like car parks, where vulnerable pedestrians may be present.