Woman admits to causing serious crash on Dorset coast road

The crash, on the Bridport to Weymouth coast road, also caused 'considerable damage' to the two cars involved.

Magistrates said they understood it was caused by a driver's 'momentary lapse' - possibly from being blinded by the glare of the sun.

They heard the motorist was very remorseful and had an otherwise clean licence.

Samantha Miners, aged 32, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.

The crash happened on July 5, 2023, on the B3157 coast road between Swyre and Abbotsbury near a turning for Puncknowle.

Read more: Four people trapped in car after crash on coast road

Weymouth Magistrates Court heard that a 78-year-old woman was driving her Lexus towards Bridport with three passengers.

Meanwhile, Miners was driving her Honda CR-V in the opposite direction towards Abbotsbury, when she collided with the other car at a corner.

Tara Olney, prosecuting, said that Miners veered across the white line at the corner into the opposite lane - colliding front-first with the oncoming car.

Both cars sustained 'considerable damage'. Whilst the three passengers sustained minor injuries, the driver had chest pain and was taken to hospital.

She was found to have a broken collar bone, multiple fractured ribs, a sternal fracture, and a small pneumothorax on the right side. She also developed pneumonia during her stay at the hospital, magistrates were told.

In a statement read to the court by Ms Olney, the injured woman said that the collision had taken place on a sharp corner. After the crash, she found it hard to breathe and remembers seeing Miners crying on the grass verge.

Ms Olney said there was no mention of alcohol, distraction by phone or speeding on the defendant's part.

Ms Murphy, mitigating, said: "She (Miners) has been very clear that she accepts the terrible impact that this would have had on others.

"She has been remorseful and has made a full admission from a very early stage. 

"She has been driving for 13 years and has an otherwise clean licence."

The court heard that Miners had been driving at 40mph - below the road's speed limit of 50mph - and that it was a sunny day with glare, which may have contributed to the crash.

"She very briefly strayed. That is when the accident happened. A momentary inattention that happened in seconds," added Ms Murphy.

"She got out very quickly to go to the aid of the others in the vehicle and was very cooperative and has given a very full account. This is a bad thing that happened but she is not a bad person."

The court heard that Miners, who volunteers for a charity in Abbotsbury, is a self-employed veterinary equine and canine physiotherapist. She is no longer able to fully keep up the equine part of her business without being able to drive to clients, and so has been forced to pivot more towards canine.

Chair of the magistrates' bench, Helen Busby, said she understood it was a 'momentary lapse', from someone with an otherwise clean licence and a 'good character'.

Miners, of Church Street, Abbotsbury, was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £320 fine, £128 surcharge and court costs of £85.