Megan Murphy, 26, was sentenced to six years in prison at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The incident occurred on January 9, 2025, in Marsh Green, Wigan, when Murphy drove her Citroen DS3 with a heavily iced windscreen, running over Darryl Tomlinson, 31, who had collapsed in the road after a night out.
Details of the Incident
Prosecutor Rob Hall told the court that Murphy made only a three-second attempt to defrost her windscreen, leaving it completely covered with thick ice. She reversed out of an alley and drove the wrong way down a one-way street, a route neighbors had seen her take before. Murphy drove over Mr. Tomlinson, reversed, and drove over him again. After the incident, she called him a 'smackhead' while he was still under her car.
Despite neighbors calling 999, police and paramedics could not locate Mr. Tomlinson and never attended the scene. He died in the street. Recorder of Bolton Judge Nicholas Clarke KC told Murphy: "You were driving blind. That is in and of itself dangerous. You deliberately chose to drive when you could not see properly."
Impact on Victim's Family
Mr. Tomlinson's mother, Michelle, said in a statement: "Since the day I lost my son, it changed all our lives. It was the worst day of my life. While Darryl was in the road, Megan Murphy decided to get in her car and not defrost it properly. I really don't feel anything anymore since losing Darryl."
Murphy's Background and Sentencing
Murphy, a former soldier and aspiring CrossFit athlete, had a clean driving record and was of previous good character. Her barrister, John Dove, said she was a 'broken woman' suffering from PTSD and depression, and was deeply remorseful. He noted she had served six years in the army and was training as a personal trainer and CrossFit coach.
Judge Clarke sentenced Murphy to six years in prison and banned her from driving for eight years. Detective Constable Carl Boydell from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "This was a truly tragic and entirely avoidable incident. Motorists have a responsibility to ensure their vehicle is safe before setting off. If you cannot see clearly, you cannot drive safely."
