Sharmila Mistry cleared of Leicester pushchair crash deaths
A woman involved in a crash in which two toddlers in pushchairs were killed has been cleared of causing their deaths by careless driving.
Sharmila Mistry, 42, lost control of her BMW when it was hit by another car and careered into Oliwier Baczyk, one, and two-year-old Zofia Tabaka in Leicester on 6 August 2012.
The jury at the city's crown court instead found Mistry guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving.
She was handed an 18-month driving ban.
During the trial the court heard Mistry was driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone when she was hit by a Mini that had gone through a red light at the junction of Narborough Road and Braunstone Gate.
Her car was then pushed into the two children who were in pushchairs at a pedestrian crossing.
The driver of the Mini, a 61-year-old man, was arrested following the crash but has since died.
The prosecution had argued Mistry, of Dalby Avenue, Bushby, had been on a hands-free phone at the time and was distracted by her call.
The jury was told the deaths of the children were caused by a combination of both motorists "falling below the standards of careful and competent drivers".
Prosecutors also said because Mistry was driving over the speed limit it minimised her chances of avoiding the collision.
She had accepted speeding but denied the phone call was a distraction.
As well as the driving ban, Mistry was handed a £3,000 fine.