Google Street ViewA mother who caused the death of her eight-year-old son when she drove her vehicle through a give-way junction and crashed into a car has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Samantha Price failed to notice a series of warning signs on a country road at Grayingham, in Lincolnshire, and hit a Mercedes car carrying two other young children on 7 August 2023, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
Her son, James Dean Price, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.
The 37-year-old mother-of-eight, of Summergangs Lane, Gainsborough, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was given a two-year jail term, suspended for two years.
Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst said had her son been wearing a seatbelt, his death “may not have happened”.
The court heard Price, who had four children in her vehicle and was travelling to Brigg horse fair after visiting a local GP surgery, was also in the habit of not wearing her seat belt correctly.
“No doubt Mrs Price regrets enormously that her own lack of wearing a seat belt may have influenced people in the car,” added the judge.
Children ‘screaming’
Prosecutor David Eager said Price had given no explanation why she failed to notice a series of give-way signs and an illuminated warning sign as she drove eastbound along the B1205.
The court was told she was still travelling at 39mph when she reached the junction before hitting the side of the Mercedes car, which was being driven south along the B1398 near Kirton in Lindsey.
The two children, aged two and four, in the Mercedes car were left frightened and screaming after the airbags deployed.
“The Mitsubishi flew with all four wheels in the air and ended up in a field,” Mr Eager said.
James Dean was pronounced dead at the scene sometime after 13:00 BST.
In a voluntary interview, Price failed to explain why her son was not wearing a seat belt and how she had missed the junction.
In mitigation, Elizabeth Muir told the court her husband would struggle to look after all seven of their children if she was jailed.
Before passing sentence, Judge Hirst acknowledged the crash was not deliberate and it was a distressing case.
“Even more so when the victim is her own son,” the judge said.
“The consequences of what you have done will last forever,” he told the defendant.
Price was handed a five-year driving ban and must take an extended driving test.
She was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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