Jacqueline Davidson spared jail after fatal Fife crash
A mother who admitted a "momentary lapse" which caused a fatal road accident in Fife has been spared jail.
Jacqueline Davidson, 48, was driving home from a children's go-kart party when she lost control of her people carrier.
She crashed head on with a Renault Clio on the A92 near Cupar on 29 August 2010, killing its owner, Lorna Grant.
Davidson was sentenced to 300 hours community work and banned from driving for 45 months at Cupar Sheriff Court.
Miss Grant, 34, was a primary school teacher in Dundee. She had to be cut from the wreckage of her car by firefighters but never regained consciousness.
At the court, Sheriff Charlie McNair told Davidson: "This was a tragic case - it caused tragedy for Miss Grant and her family.
"She was driving in a perfectly proper manner and you crossed the carriageway and collided with her."
He added: "Balancing the seriousness of the offence and your personal circumstances is an extremely difficult exercise.
"Nothing I do today can bring Lorna Grant back and make things any better for her family."
At the trial, Davidson, from Broughty Ferry, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
The court heard that she was "traumatised" by what had happened.
Ian Duguid, QC, defending, said Davidson had undertaken extensive tests to establish whether there had been any medical reason for the fatal manoeuvre.
He said there were two possible explanations, one of which was that doctors had found "spikes" in Davidson's brainwaves, suggesting she might have suffered an epileptic episode.
The second was that she was taking prescribed anti-depressants and over-the-counter painkillers for a migraine, which might have combined to cause a blackout.
In a statement, Miss Grant's family said: "Lorna was an amazing girl, talented in so many ways. She loved outdoors, walking, climbing and travelling.
"She was a perfectionist in everything she did but, at the same time, always caring and supportive."