Lorry driver David Taylor admits killing Michelle Jurd
A Cumbrian lorry driver who admitted causing the death of former RAF officer in a crash will not be sent to jail.
Michelle Jurd, 41, was driving her two young daughters on the A590 near Kendal when she was in collision with a lorry driven by David Taylor. She died later.
Taylor, of Foulshaw Lane, Levens, denied dangerous driving but admitted causing death by careless driving.
Judge Barbara Forrester told Taylor, 54, he would not be sent to prison. He will be sentenced on 21 October.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how Mrs Jurd died after the Citroen car she was driving was in collision with Taylor's articulated lorry at Gilpin Bridge, Levens, on November 2009.
Her two young daughters were not seriously injured.
During her career in the RAF she was the first female officer to qualify as a navigator on Puma aircraft, and rose to the rank of squadron leader.
In Iraq she led an operation into enemy territory during a sandstorm to recover soldiers likely to be overrun by the enemy.
Taylor was originally charged with causing her death by dangerous driving, but his not guilty plea was accepted by the prosecution.
Judge Forrester told him he would probably be given a suspended prison sentence accompanied by a community punishment.