Driver may not know she was involved in death of woman, 88
POLICE are appealing directly to a driver who may not even know she was involved in the death of an 88-year-old woman.
Barbara McCracken was one of two passengers on the number 18 First bus which screeched to a halt when a car apparently cut across its path on Southmead Road, Filton, on the morning of Wednesday, May 16.
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Inspector Andy Roebuck
The normally fit and healthy pensioner from Stoke Gifford suffered a broken neck and passed away last Friday.
More than a week on, the driver of the car involved in the incident has still not made herself known to police.
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Avon and Somerset Inspector Andy Roebuck said investigations have shown the traffic lights at the junction with Golf Course Lane were green for vehicles going straight ahead in both directions.
The car, which was coming from Filton, would have had to wait for a gap to safely turn right.
However, it appears as it made that manoeuvre the bus driver had to perform an emergency stop.
Insp Roebuck told the Post: "The lady in the car is unlikely to have actually known the significance of what happened at the time, as there was no impact between the two vehicles.
"There was CCTV in the area but that is inconclusive. We are in the infancy of our investigation into this and we need to speak to this driver and ask her some questions to find out what she was doing in the lead up to the junction and at the point of the harsh braking by the bus driver."
When asked whether the driver may now know that she had been involved in a fatal accident, due to the Post's publicity of what happened, Mr Roebuck said: "That is a possibility."
Great-grandmother Mrs McCracken had been visiting her sister Pat in Southmead and was on her way home to Stoke Gifford.
As the bus stopped sharply, she hit her head on the seat in front, suffering a broken neck and cuts.
She leaves son Brian, 63, daughter- in-law Christine, grandchildren Paul, 38, Katie, 36, James, 29, and great-grandson Archie, three.
She had been looking forward to celebrating James' wedding to fiancee Jenny this Sunday.
Paying tribute earlier this week, Brian described her as a "quiet and gentle" woman.
"Mum was as fit as a fiddle for her age – I thought I would have her for another ten years at least," he said.
"We are very perturbed and upset the driver hasn't come forward."
The driver was white, with dark-blonde hair. The car she was driving was a metallic-bronze coloured, hatchback or small estate car.
Witnesses said she stopped in the middle of the carriageway and shouted something at the bus driver before turning right.
She could eventually be questioned on suspicion of death by careless driving.
Insp Roebuck said: "If the driver reads this, I would ask her go to her nearest police station as soon as possible.
"Any death, whatever the circumstances, is devastating for any family.
"We always try and make sure the full picture is available for them so that they can at least understand what has happened."
Witnesses should call the collision investigation unit on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments
by theparcel
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 3:38PM
“She couldn't care less, she's completely unfazed by what's happened!”
by manchestergas
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 7:14PM
“can Inspector Andy Roebuck see anything under that hat?”
by roly12345
Friday, May 25 2012, 2:25PM
“By stopping for a quick rant, the woman must have drawn attention to herself, therefore giving passers-by the opportunity of saying, "Yes, that's the woman. She was the one driving that car in a reckless manner"
What is rather confusing, is, it is impossible to sneak out of your house and travel ten yards without being caught on at least five CCTV cameras.
We know the exact time of the incident, the general direction of the car and it was a distinctive colour. Now unless she was a space alien with the power to go invisible that car will be on some three dozen recordings from CCTV, at least one will show her registration and a clear shot of her face.
So the question is, How long before the recordings get automatically wiped and the evidence so casually thrown away?”
by Lanata
Friday, May 25 2012, 2:21PM
“@ Commenter42 "Stopping and shouting is not proof of dangerous driving let alone causing death."
I didn't say it was - you "said only one person's (the bus driver) word" - I highlighted "Witnesses said she stopped in the middle of the carriageway and shouted something at the bus driver before turning right."
"Witnesses" implies more than one - ie not "only one person's" word.
I also said "enough evidence to get the correct conviction." which may not necessarily be "death by careless driving" as quoted in the article.
Regardless I hope, if she now knows what happened she will come forward to the Police.”
by Morrissey9
Friday, May 25 2012, 1:49PM
“It is never going to be completely conclusive. The bus could have been going too fast, the driver (or both drivers) not looking, we have no idea what the circumstances actually were. It will just have to go down as a tragic accident.”
by Commenter42
Friday, May 25 2012, 1:33PM
“Stopping and shouting is not proof of dangerous driving let alone causing death.”
by Lanata
Friday, May 25 2012, 12:59PM
“@by Commenter42 - "Witnesses said she stopped in the middle of the carriageway and shouted something at the bus driver before turning right."
Implies more than just the bus driver as a witness so hopefully there will be enough evidence to get the correct conviction.
Perhaps the Police could to contact the local businesses, ie BAE, Airbus, GKN etc to ask for help - maybe they could send global emails around their IT systems to staff to help with jogging memories.
The more this is publised, the more chance someone will come forward or know who it may be.”
by Commenter42
Friday, May 25 2012, 12:20PM
“With no CCTV coverage sand only one person's (the bus driver) word, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to prove beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law that the driver a) drove dangerously and that b) the drivers actions lead DIRECTLY to the death of Mrs McCracken.”
by Lucie_Bristol
Friday, May 25 2012, 12:01PM
“I suspect the threat of being done with death by dangerous driving might be why the driver hasn't come forward.”