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Texting death crash woman jailed Texting death crash woman jailed
(20 minutes later)
A woman who sent and received more than 20 text messages before crashing, killing another driver has been jailed for 21 months. A motorist who sent and received more than 20 text messages before she crashed into another car killing its driver has been jailed for 21 months.
Philippa Curtis, 21, from Suffolk, sent and received the messages before hitting the back of a stationary car at 70mph on the A40 in Oxfordshire. Philippa Curtis, 21, from Suffolk, was texting before she hit the back of a stationary car at 70mph on the A40 in Oxfordshire.
Victoria McBryde, 24, suffered fatal injuries during the crash in Oxford in November 2007. Victoria McBryde, 24, who was dealing with a burst tyre was killed in the crash near Oxford in November 2007.
Curtis, of Bury St Edmonds, was also given a three-year driving ban.Curtis, of Bury St Edmonds, was also given a three-year driving ban.
'Folly and madness'
Judge Julian Hall said it had been "folly and madness" to use a phone while driving and it had been "disastrous" for Curtis, Ms McBryde and her family.Judge Julian Hall said it had been "folly and madness" to use a phone while driving and it had been "disastrous" for Curtis, Ms McBryde and her family.
Curtis, who injured her arm in the crash with a Peugeot 106, had told Oxford Crown Court she had felt there were times when using a phone while driving was acceptable. Curtis, who injured her arm in the crash with a Peugeot 106, told Oxford Crown Court she felt there were times when using a phone while driving was acceptable.
During the trial the defendant, a waitress, said she had been "hyper" as she set off on her two-hour journey on 20 November, 2007.During the trial the defendant, a waitress, said she had been "hyper" as she set off on her two-hour journey on 20 November, 2007.
She made various calls and sent text messages to a number of friends using predictive text. She had made various calls and sent text messages to a number of friends using predictive text.
Shortly after making a call, her car hit Ms McBryde's parked vehicle and then spun into oncoming traffic, hitting two more vehicles.
Ms McBryde, 24, from Northamptonshire, who had stopped to deal with a burst tyre, suffered a fatal brain injury in the crash.
Judge Hall said he hoped the case would send out a warning to other drivers not to use their phones when behind the wheel.