A woman who killed a Take That fan after running her over as she walked to a concert has been sentenced to just 12 months in prison. Fiona Hodge, 69, struck Donna Crossman, 53, with her Citroen on the Brunel Way flyover in Bristol on the evening of June 9, 2024.
Ms Crossman, from Bridgend, Wales, was walking with two friends towards Ashton Gate Stadium for the concert when Hodge mounted the pavement. She narrowly missed the first two women before hitting Ms Crossman, who was knocked off the flyover onto the park below and died from her injuries the following day.
Hodge denied causing death by careless driving but was found guilty by a jury. She was also given a two-and-a-half-year driving ban and ordered to pay £3,000 in court costs. Police footage showed Hodge telling officers she was driving within the speed limit and that the road was 'not busy', but witnesses testified her car was 'swerving between lanes'.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Crossman's mother, Annette Price, said: 'Although Donna was a grown woman, she was our child, our flesh and blood. Nothing can prepare you for the death of a child at whatever age.' She added: 'She was a truly amazing woman. To us, her family, she was our rock.'
Speaking after the sentencing, Mrs Price and her husband Stephen said: 'Whatever the sentence was, it will not bring our beloved daughter back, but it goes some way to righting a wrong and proving the British legal system works.'
Investigating Officer Noelie Poupard said: 'No sentence can undo the devastating loss suffered by Donna's family... Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of the consequences of Hodge's actions and provides a measure of accountability.'
