Van driver jailed after head on crash kills 07 year old girl
A Van driver has been jailed for six years after causing the death of a seven year old girl and seriously injuring her father in a head-on collision in Lincolnshire.
Veselin Dudenski, 39, overtook in a hidden dip and struck the family’s car with what the court described as a clear lack of patience and attention. The fatal crash happened on the B1202 at Metheringham Heath near Sleaford on 3 January.
Seven year old Elsie, who had been travelling home from a shopping trip with her father, Jamie Gascoigne, died in hospital hours later from a broken neck.
Her parents described her as a whirlwind of personality and energy, adding that her non stop chatter meant life was never dull or quiet around her.
Driver ignored warnings of a hidden dip
Prosecutor Claire Holmes told Lincoln Crown Court that Dudenski had already overtaken one vehicle shortly before the crash. Moments later he moved onto the wrong side of the road again to pass another vehicle, despite clear warnings of a hidden dip through road signs and markings.
Ms Holmes said Dudenski either failed to pay sufficient attention to the warnings or chose to ignore them.
Mr Gascoigne attempted evasive action when Dudenski’s van appeared in front of him but was unable to avoid a head on impact.
Elsie was rushed to hospital with catastrophic injuries and died in the early hours of the following morning. Her father suffered serious injuries in the collision.
Judge criticises driver for lack of patience
Sentencing Dudenski, Judge Sjolin Knight accepted that he may not have realised the dip was there, which meant his offence did not fall into the most severe sentencing category. However, she told him his assumption had been tragically wrong.
The judge said Dudenski’s actions showed a clear lack of patience. She rejected his claim that he waited several seconds before attempting the overtaking manoeuvre, saying the evidence did not support that version of events.
She added that she had not seen genuine remorse for Elsie or her family until the day of sentencing.
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Family says loss is a lifelong punishment
Speaking outside court, Elsie’s mother, Kerry, described her daughter as a devoted mummy’s girl who never wanted to be apart from her.
She said the loss of a child is the cruellest punishment imaginable and that even the happiest memories of Elsie’s life are now tainted by the traumatic images no parent should ever endure.
Guilty plea and driving ban
Dudenski, of Cherry Avenue in Branston, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Alongside the six year prison sentence, he has been banned from driving for eight years.
