Daughter, 54, caused death of her 81-year-old mother and seriously injured her pregnant niece when she blacked out on roundabout
- Alison McKenna cleared of death by dangerous driving at Grimsby Crown Court
- She was driving in Scunthorpe when her Vauxhall Corsa collided with a VW Golf
- Miss McKenna, 54, had picked up her mother Rose just before the fatal collision
- She does not remember blacking out, but has suffered from low blood pressureÂ
Alison McKenna had just picked up her mother Rose from hospital when she lost consciousness behind the wheel
A daughter caused the death of her 81-year-old mother and seriously injured her pregnant niece when she blacked out on a roundabout.
Alison McKenna, 54, had just picked up her mother Rose from hospital when she lost consciousness behind the wheel and crashed in Scunthorpe, during June 2015.
Her Vauxhall Corsa collided with a VW Golf at a roundabout, causing fatal chest and spine injuries to her elderly mother and leaving her niece with a fractured pelvis and forearm.Â
She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving after the incident, but was cleared by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday.Â
Miss McKenna told police, when she was asked how the accident happened: 'I have no idea. I remember driving down the road and then nothing.
'I have got no clue what happened. Not a thing. Blank, not a thing. I have got absolutely no recollection at all.'
She claimed that the first thing she remembered after the accident was seeing 'trees' and that she checked that her mother and niece were all right.
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Her mother seemed 'fine' but her niece was 'groaning' and complaining about her arm.
'I blacked out,' said Miss McKenna.
'The only thing I can think of is my blood pressure and that's because there is nothing else.'
She told police that she had suffered from high blood pressure for 25 to 30 years but, more recently, had encountered problems with 'very, very low' blood pressure.
She had used a blood pressure monitor for 20 years but had not checked it that morning.
Rose McKenna, 81, (pictured) tragically died of chest and spine injuries in hospitalÂ
'I remember nothing,' she said. 'All I know is that I passed out.'
'It was a terrible accident.'
She described her mother as her 'best friend'.
John Thackray, prosecuting, said that Miss McKenna's low blood pressure problems meant that it was 'an accident waiting to happen'.
The family had been very close before the accident.
'The case has torn this family apart,' said Mr Thackray.
'This defendant knew perfectly well that she should not be driving. She was desperate not to be prevented from driving.'
Defence barrister Richard Dawson said that Miss McKenna had suffered 'torment' and 'anguish'.
Miss McKenna was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but was cleared by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court
Because of the court case and the 'accusations' made against her, she had not been able to 'grieve in peace' for the death of her mother.
'She has no memory of the event itself,' said Mr Dawson.
'It's a case that has had catastrophic consequences and it has devastated lives.
'The consequences of Alison McKenna's driving were terrible.'
Miss McKenna declined to give evidence to the jury in her defence.
After the verdicts, she told the Grimsby Telegraph: 'Truth will always prevail.'
Her sister, Owenna McKenna, 53, said: 'It was a tragic accident and it's ripped our family to pieces.
'We should have stuck together in times of tragedy, as a good family would, showing compassion not anger and resentment.
'I hope we can all move on now and get on with our lives. Alison and Mum were best friends and were so close.'
Leanne Hallibone declined to comment.Â
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