Joan Mitchelmore, 82 (pictured), accidentally killed a grandfather-of-two when she pressed down on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal
A 82-year-old pensioner accidentally killed a grandfather when she pressed down on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal as she drove to the optician.
Joan Mitchelmore, who walks with a stick and has an eye condition which can affect sight, was on her way to the appointment when she lost control of her car in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and ploughed into 67-year-old Colin Moxley.
Mr Moxley, a tobacconist and confectioner, had been walking back to his shop when Mitchelmore mounted the pavement outside Sainsbury's, sending him crashing into a row of shopping trolleys.
He was given CPR but was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the crash, Mitchelmore - who has glaucoma, which causes a build-up of pressure in the eye - was heard saying: 'Oh my God. Look what I have done.' She has now surrendered her licence.
Today, Mitchelmore, who is now 83, pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court to causing death by careless driving. The prosecution accepted her not guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving.
But Mr Moxley's bereft wife Yvonne called for changes in the law so that elderly motorists undergo more regular eye tests.
In a moving victim impact statement read to the court, she said: 'I know in her heart she must have known her reactions were too slow, or her eyesight was too poor or she was getting confused.'
Prosecutor Peter Shaw told the court how Mitchelmore, was driving her VW Golf through the centre with her husband Philip when the crash took place.
The retired accounts worker had gone along the high street before turning left into a small one-way road.
But as she went around the corner, the car mounted the pavement. The vehicle then crashed into a bollard and collided with Mr Moxley. Mitchelmore, before hitting a brick planter and shopping trolleys.
Members of the public attempted to save Mr Moxley and paramedics also gave him CPR. He was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.
Mr Shaw said the accident, which took place in January last year, happened in daylight with good visibility.
Witnesses told how they heard the engine rev loudly before the car struck the victim, at between 18 and 23mph. He added that the defendant had pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
Defending, Karen Dempsey said: 'The defendant wishes to extend her sincerest apologies. She thinks about it all of the time.
She was on her way to an optician appointment when she lost control of her car and ploughed into 67-year-old Colin Moxley (pictured). The tobacconist, from Harpenden, Herts, was described as a 'big character'
'She surrendered her licence when she was interviewed and has no intention of driving again.'
Mrs Moxley said her husband, who lived in Harpenden for 40 years, was a 'big character' in the town.
She said members of the public lined the street to watch his funeral cortège and drinkers raised their glasses to him as they went past. He had two grandchildren.
Judge Jonathan Carroll said the death of Mr Moxley was an 'absolutely devastating tragedy' and passed his condolences to the family.
Today, Mitchelmore, who is now 83, pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court to causing death by careless driving. The scene of the crash is pictured
The court heard how Mitchelmore's car mounted the pavement. The vehicle then crashed into a bollard and collided with Mr Moxley, before hitting a brick planter and shopping trolleys (pictured)
He described him as a 'thoroughly decent man' who took great pleasure in his life, work, family and grandchildren.
He said: 'Mrs Mitchelmore should have braked, and pressed the accelerator by mistake and tragedy ensued.'
The judge made an 18 month Community Order with 18 months supervision. She was banned for driving for two years and must take an extended retest if she wishes to regain a licence, but the judge said she realised that was not realistic.
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