Seafront jogger killed by car after driver fell out of it while parking

Gillian Richings, 68, was leaning out of the open door of her new car whilst trying to park
Gillian Richings, 68, was leaning out of the open door of her new car whilst trying to park Credit: Jason Lewis/BNPS

A seafront jogger was killed by a car after its owner fell out of the vehicle whilst trying to park, a court has heard. 

Supermarket worker Gillian Richings, 68, was leaning out of the open door of her new car whilst trying to park, but after hitting the accelerator instead of the brake, the open driver’s side door hit a lamppost and she was dragged from the vehicle.

The semi-automatic Vauxhall Zafira then continued moving at speed, before ploughing into jogger David Harris, 70, despite his efforts to get out of the way. 

The father-of-one was pinned underneath the runaway people carrier on the beach at Swanage, Dorset on April 2.

Members of the public lifted the vehicle off him, and police officers, firefighters, coast guard officials, paramedics and an air ambulance crew went to the scene. However, Mr Harris, a former railway signalling engineer, died from fatal head injuries.

Poole Magistrates’ Court was told that Richings had only bought the semi-automatic Vauxhall Zafira about a month before the incident and had not driven an automatic car for up to 10 years. 

Gillian Richings arriving at Poole Magistrates Court
Gillian Richings arriving at Poole Magistrates Court Credit: Corin Messer/BNPS

Richings admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention but was not given a prison sentence.

Mr Harris's widow, Rosemary, said the sentence did not reflect the devastation felt by her family. 

“It’s been so upsetting, a completely devastating ordeal I can barely bring myself to talk about it. 

“For me the sentence is too lenient, he was just out jogging on the beach. It’s been a huge ordeal and the court case was so difficult to go through. 

“I don’t know if more attention needs to be paid to driverless cars because I can’t bring myself to think about what has happened.”

Desmond Reynolds, mitigating, said Richings had made a "terrible error" not turning her engine off and bringing the car out of reverse before leaning out to check its position in the road.

He also offered her "profound and public apology" to Mr Harris's family and friends.

Mr Reynolds said: "She particularly apologies to Rosemary Harris, who has suffered a terrible loss.

David Harris died at the scene of the incident 
David Harris died at the scene of the incident  Credit:  Jason Lewis/BNPS

"She has owned her semi-automatic car for around a month. She had driven an automatic before, but not for at least ten years."

Richings, from Swanage, had no points on her driving licence, which she had held since 1986.

In a victim impact statement Mrs Harris spoke of the “hate and anger" she felt for “the woman who killed my husband and has never apologised”.

“How can I begin to explain my overwhelming, devastating, heartbroken feelings?” she added.

“He was my husband, my best friend and my constant companion. We were really happy and looking forward to a happy future together.

“She has taken all that away from us and destroyed our lives and future.”

Richings was sentenced to complete 120 hours of community service, and was handed a 12-month driving ban and £150 fine and was ordered to pay £85 in costs.

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