OAP who killed two friends in crash banned from driving
An 86-year-old woman who killed two of her friends in a car crash has been banned from driving for four years.
Leslie Garven admitted causing the deaths of two of her friends after failing to give way at a junction in Perthshire in September 2012.
Two women aged 78 and 83 died following the crash near Tibbermore.
A sheriff decided to fine Garven, of Perth, £3,000 and ban her from the road after hearing she had been forgiven by the families of her victims.
Garven was taking a group of elderly friends on a trip to Crieff on 28 September, 2012, when she drove out onto the main road without giving way, causing a collision with an oncoming car containing three toddlers. Perth Sheriff Court heard that Garven was driving at 13mph and should have seen the oncoming vehicle.
Richmal Southwood, 83, and Rhoda Lawton, 78, both died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Garven admitted causing death by careless driving, but the court heard that the families of the deceased women had accepted the incident was a "tragic accident", with one arguing that Garven had "self-punished" and "suffered enough".
Her solicitor David Holmes said it was "abundantly clear she will carry the burden of this for the rest of her days".
Sheriff Fiona Tait said Garven's age meant it was impractical to make her carry out unpaid work in the community and said a fine was the only appropriate way of dealing with the case.
She said: "I am mindful of the inadequacy of any penalty I impose compared to the loss of the families. I was very impressed by the dignified and compassionate approach taken by the families."