MADNESS

Susan Ward's family has urged other motorists to learn from the accident and called for those who break the law to be "ostracised".

Sixty-one-year-old Mrs Ward, of Elmley Castle, near Pershore, was killed when Imed Boudhina ploughed into her Nissan Sunny on the B4084 between Pershore and Evesham on Friday, August 4, last year.

Magistrates heard Boudhina was lucky to survive the crash himself, breaking his neck, jaw, ribs, legs and pelvis, and now wished he was dead.

The 33-year-old's overtaking manoeuvre was labelled "nothing short of complete madness", when he appeared before Worcester magistrates on Wednesday to admit careless driving.

Warehouse worker Boudhina, who had only passed his driving test six months before the accident, wept as details of the case were revealed.

He was driving his red Peugeot 106 home from work at 6.30pm when he decided to overtake a Mini. As he did so, he smashed head-on into Mrs Ward's car, being driven in the opposite direction, towards Pershore.

The court heard Boudhina, of Fairfield Road, Evesham, had suffered mentally since the accident. He now walks with crutches and despite undergoing eight operations, must still have at least three more and is unable to work.

Bill Payter, chairman of the magistrates' bench, said: "The results of your driving have had a devastating effect on more than one family. The tragedy will leave scars which will affect many. We extend our deepest sympathies to all of those affected.

"We are dealing with the highest level of culpability in careless driving. As someone who used the road regularly, the overtaking move was inexcusable. It was nothing short of complete madness. You made an unfortunate and unforgivable decision to overtake."

Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said that although Boudhina was conscious after the accident he was now no longer able to remember what happened.

Ms Rosamond said: "He did show remorse towards the Ward family. The evidence excludes any blame for Mrs Ward, who was driving within the speed limit on the right side of the road."

Susan Brady, defending, said Boudhina accepted full responsibility for the accident straight away.

She added: "He finds it difficult to live with what happened. In some ways, he wishes he had died."

In addition to the ban he will have to do an extended retest and was fined £2,000.

Mrs Ward's husband John, aged 63, and daughters, Joy, 31, and Ann, 28, broke down in court and son Richard, 25, is said to be "utterly crushed".

After the hearing, Joy Ward said: "We need to change the social attitude. The only thing that should come out of this is to say, Look how many people it's destroyed'. Next time you drive and think about taking a gamble, remember the cost and what can happen."

Mr Ward paid tribute to his wife, who ran Wayside Nurseries at Elmley Castle and was a Government horticultural advisor.

Choking back tears, he said: "Susan always thought about other people. It upsets me that she never fulfilled what she wanted to do because she always put the family and everyone else first.

"Nothing can bring my wife back. My wish is that the standard of driving will improve and that people will learn from this sort of thing. These are needless deaths.

"I don't know whether traffic penalties help but society should not accept people who drive like this - they should be ostracised. The Highway Code is totally ignored and when people break it, nobody notices."