Hit-and-run driver killed grandmother

A motorist from Exeter who killed a grandmother after hitting her and driving off has been jailed for three months.

Raymond Hood, 57, pleaded guilty at Cullompton Magistrates' Court to driving without due care and attention, and failing to stop after an accident.

Jean Clark, 69, from Exeter, was waiting at a bus stop at Ebford Dip on the A376 from Exmouth to Exeter, when she was struck by Hood's car in July 2002.

Mrs Clark's husband, Reg, 72, said the three month sentence was "no more, no less" than he expected.

It is clear that the damage involved more than merely hitting a lamp post

Patrick Rogers,
magistrates chairman

Hood, who had been driving at least 14mph above the speed limit, swerved off the road next to a bus stop where Mrs Clark was waiting.

He carried her on the front of his car until it struck a lamp post and she fell off.

He then drove to a lay-by, examined the damage to his car and drove off.

Another motorist followed Hood and gave his registration number to police, leading to his arrest.

Hood told police he swerved to avoid an animal in the road and denied seeing a person or hitting one.

Disqualified driver

Defence solicitor Rachel Bentley said if Hood had realised he had hit a pedestrian he would have stopped.

She said Hood, a carpenter and joiner, with a wife and two children, had not driven since the incident and did not plan to do so again.

Magistrates chairman Patrick Rogers said: "Your car struck Mrs Clark and she received fatal injuries. She was carried on the bonnet of your car until it struck a lamp post."

"It is clear that the damage involved more than merely hitting a lamp post."

Hood was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.