Driver jailed for eight years after fatal drink-driving crash kills elderly couple

An individual responsible for the deaths of an elderly couple in a collision, having been found to be twice the legal drink-drive limit, has received an eight-year prison sentence. Christine Line passed away at the accident site, located at the intersection of Highfield Lane and Nottingham Road, Chaddesden, on 13 June 2023. Her husband, William, subsequently died in hospital. Testimony at Derby Crown Court indicated that Jane Hunter-Priestley’s vehicle was observed “shooting out of” her residential road prior to colliding with the Jaguar operated by Mr. Line. The court was informed that Hunter-Priestley inadvertently pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. The presiding judge stated: “The reality of the situation was you were so intoxicated, you were incapable of exercising any control over your vehicle.” Hunter-Priestley, aged 63, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by dangerous driving at the same court on Thursday. During the sentencing proceedings on Monday, the court was informed that Hunter-Priestley, residing on Highfield Lane, had discovered the day preceding the crash that her husband intended to leave her for another person. Judge Jonathan Straw KC remarked that she “took comfort in the bottle”. The court heard that she had consumed vodka and was taking anti-depressants before operating the vehicle, rendering her “highly impaired.” The judge noted that in that condition, she entered her car to travel to a doctor’s appointment. He stated: “As a consequence of making that fateful decision to drive, William and Christine were killed.” He added: “Many lives, including your own, have been permanently and indelibly affected.” Testimony presented to the court revealed that Mr. Line, 81, and his 80-year-old wife were stopped in traffic close to a Tesco petrol station following a visit to a garden centre when Hunter-Priestley “came out of nowhere” and struck the driver’s side of their vehicle at 39mph (62km/h). In a victim impact statement, their son David, who displayed framed photographs of his parents to the court, declared: “Jane Hunter-Priestley chose to get in her car knowing she had alcohol in her system. You left my parents dead.” He continued: “You are a drink-driver, the lowest of the low.” He further stated: “You cannot imagine the pain you have caused. You have taken my parents’ life and ruined mine.” David concluded: “I will never forgive you for killing my beautiful parents.” Justin Ablott, representing the defence, conveyed that Hunter-Priestley wished to articulate “her profound horror at what she has done”. He added: “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 possessed a driving licence since 1985 and had no prior convictions, received an eight-year sentence for both charges, to be served concurrently. Additionally, she was prohibited from driving for a period of 15 years.