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A34 fatal crash driver meets victim's girlfriend | A34 fatal crash driver meets victim's girlfriend |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A driver who killed a man in a head-on crash has told his victim's partner he lived "to pay for what I've done". | A driver who killed a man in a head-on crash has told his victim's partner he lived "to pay for what I've done". |
Lewis Stratford met Meg Williamson ahead of his sentencing for the crash he caused during an argument with his girlfriend on the phone. | Lewis Stratford met Meg Williamson ahead of his sentencing for the crash he caused during an argument with his girlfriend on the phone. |
Gavin Roberts, 28, died after Stratford's car crossed the central reservation on the A34, in Oxfordshire. | Gavin Roberts, 28, died after Stratford's car crossed the central reservation on the A34, in Oxfordshire. |
At the meeting, which Ms Williamson set up, Stratford, 24, said he knew he had ruined lives. | At the meeting, which Ms Williamson set up, Stratford, 24, said he knew he had ruined lives. |
"When I had the message she wanted to meet me I felt upset because I'm guilty and I feel like a bad person," he told the BBC, which filmed the encounter. | "When I had the message she wanted to meet me I felt upset because I'm guilty and I feel like a bad person," he told the BBC, which filmed the encounter. |
Ms Williamson asked to see Stratford, of Field Avenue, Oxford, after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 3 March. | Ms Williamson asked to see Stratford, of Field Avenue, Oxford, after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 3 March. |
He had been driving southbound towards his girlfriend's home, while Mr Roberts - an Australian who was living in Swindon - was going northbound on his way to work as an electrical engineer. | |
Stratford lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa during the argument on 11 June last year and crashed through the barrier before colliding with Mr Robert's BMW. | Stratford lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa during the argument on 11 June last year and crashed through the barrier before colliding with Mr Robert's BMW. |
Both men were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but while Stratford survived, Mr Roberts died days later. | Both men were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but while Stratford survived, Mr Roberts died days later. |
Stratford was the first to speak in the meeting, saying: "I know I've caused a lot of pain with something that could have waited till the next day. | |
"I know the lives I've ruined, I deserve everything I get. I am sorry but I can't keep saying that because it's not going to make things better." | "I know the lives I've ruined, I deserve everything I get. I am sorry but I can't keep saying that because it's not going to make things better." |
Speaking after the meeting, Miss Williamson told the BBC: "The hardest bit originally, I think, was just walking through the door, not knowing how I was going to be feeling, how I was going to react. | |
"Back in June, when I was sat in the hospital, I did have that hatred and I did have the anger but then over time you realise Lewis is a real person and he had compassion and he was sorry for what he did. | |
"It's very difficult to warm to somebody when you know why you're sat there but I was understanding of his emotions and compassion and thankful to him for having agreed to meet me." | |
You can watch the full interview on Inside Out South at 19:30 GMT on Monday. | You can watch the full interview on Inside Out South at 19:30 GMT on Monday. |