Woman who killed elderly couple in crash jailed

A driver who killed an elderly couple in a crash while twice over the drink-drive limit has been jailed for eight years.

Christine Line died at the scene, at the junction of Highfield Lane and Nottingham Road, Chaddesden, on 13 June 2023, while her husband William died in hospital.

Derby Crown Court heard Jane Hunter-Priestley's car was seen "shooting out of" the road she lived on, before hitting the Jaguar Mr Line was driving.

Hunter-Priestley had accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, the court was told, and the sentencing judge said: "The reality of the situation was you were so intoxicated, you were incapable of exercising any control over your vehicle."

Hunter-Priestley, 63, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at the same court on Thursday.

During sentencing on Monday, the court heard Hunter-Priestley, of Highfield Lane, found out the day before the crash that her husband was leaving her for someone else.

Judge Jonathan Straw KC said she "took comfort in the bottle".

She had been drinking vodka, as well as taking anti-depressants, before getting behind the wheel, and was "highly impaired", the court heard.

The judge said in that state, she got in the car to head to a doctor's appointment.

"As a consequence of making that fateful decision to drive, William and Christine were killed," he said.

"Many lives, including your own, have been permanently and indelibly affected."

The court heard Mr Line, 81, and his 80-year-old wife were in stationary traffic near to Tesco petrol station after visiting a garden centre when Hunter-Priestley "came out of nowhere" and hit the driver's side at 39mph (62km/h).

In a victim impact statement, their son David - who held up framed photographs of his parents to the court - said: "Jane Hunter-Priestley chose to get in her car knowing she had alcohol in her system. You left my parents dead.

"You are a drink-driver, the lowest of the low.

"You cannot imagine the pain you have caused. You have taken my parents' life and ruined mine.

"I will never forgive you for killing my beautiful parents."

Justin Ablott, defending, said Hunter-Priestley wanted to express "her profound horror at what she has done".

He said: "She cannot forgive herself for what happened and does not expect anyone else to do so. She wishes it had been her who had lost her life."

Hunter-Priestley, who had held her driving licence since 1985 and had no previous convictions, was sentenced to eight years for both counts, which will run concurrently.

She was also disqualified from driving for 15 years.

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