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| Driving ban for fatal crash woman | Driving ban for fatal crash woman |
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| An accountant who caused a crash in West Lothian which killed a teenage mother has been fined £1,500 and banned from driving. | An accountant who caused a crash in West Lothian which killed a teenage mother has been fined £1,500 and banned from driving. |
| Petra Easton, 49, originally stood trial accused of dangerous driving but a jury found her guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving. | Petra Easton, 49, originally stood trial accused of dangerous driving but a jury found her guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving. |
| On 7 November 2006, Easton tried to overtake three vehicles on the A704 West Calder to Forth road. | |
| She crashed head on into a minivan carrying six members of a family. | She crashed head on into a minivan carrying six members of a family. |
| A competent and safe driver would not have driven as you did Lord EmslieHigh Court in Aberdeen | A competent and safe driver would not have driven as you did Lord EmslieHigh Court in Aberdeen |
| At the High Court in Aberdeen Lord Emslie said she had shown sustained carelessness and fined her and banned her for driving for 18 months. | At the High Court in Aberdeen Lord Emslie said she had shown sustained carelessness and fined her and banned her for driving for 18 months. |
| Mother-of-one Gail Stewart, 19, died. Her mother Michelle, had to have a leg amputated. | Mother-of-one Gail Stewart, 19, died. Her mother Michelle, had to have a leg amputated. |
| While her one-year-old daughter, Rebecca, broke her ankle and younger sisters, Sammy, 18, Stephanie, 14, and Jennifer, 11 were all treated for broken legs. | While her one-year-old daughter, Rebecca, broke her ankle and younger sisters, Sammy, 18, Stephanie, 14, and Jennifer, 11 were all treated for broken legs. |
| Catastrophic consequences | Catastrophic consequences |
| Gail Stewart was rushed to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh but died of serious injuries two weeks later. | Gail Stewart was rushed to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh but died of serious injuries two weeks later. |
| Defence counsel Peter Gray QC said: "There was nothing unusual about the manner that Mrs Easton overtook. | Defence counsel Peter Gray QC said: "There was nothing unusual about the manner that Mrs Easton overtook. |
| "The only aspect of carelessness was her decision to attempt to overtake when it was not safe to do so. | "The only aspect of carelessness was her decision to attempt to overtake when it was not safe to do so. |
| "The carelessness in carrying out the manoeuvre was in failing to take sufficient time to ensure that the road was indeed clear ahead." | "The carelessness in carrying out the manoeuvre was in failing to take sufficient time to ensure that the road was indeed clear ahead." |
| Sentencing Easton, Lord Emslie said: "A competent and safe driver would not have driven as you did. | Sentencing Easton, Lord Emslie said: "A competent and safe driver would not have driven as you did. |
| "The tragic consequences were catastrophic with a whole family injured and a young mother tragically killed." | "The tragic consequences were catastrophic with a whole family injured and a young mother tragically killed." |