A woman who was killed by a dangerous Mercedes driver "always had a smile on her face".
Claudia Forden, 22, was a passenger of Jack Caddick's car, which was travelling at more than double the speed limit. The 27-year-old lost control on a bend and smashed almost head-on into another car.
Nursery worker Ms Forden died as a result of her injuries, while his girlfriend, Fleur Durrant, was also seriously hurt on what was her 21st birthday. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday, September 29 that David Hockey was driving his Honda CR-V along Little Crosby Road in the direction of Crosby at around 1.30pm on August 28, 2021, and was travelling in a 30mph zone as he approached a right-hand bend after passing Little Crosby.
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Paul Becker, prosecuting, described how another car then "emerged, flying around the bend" from the oncoming direction when he was around 20 metres away from the turn. The red Mercedes, being driven by Caddick, was "trying to take the corner but travelling too fast" and veered into the wrong lane.
The court heard Caddick had picked both Ms Forden and Ms Durrant only minutes earlier in order to take them to Starbucks on the Formby Bypass. Mr Hockey was said to have "had no chance to brake or swerve", and the other vehicle hit him "almost head on, but slightly to the side".
He was airlifted to Aintree Hospital, where he remained for two days after suffering injuries including broken ribs. Ms Durrant sustained fractures to her right foot and collarbone. Ms Forden was also rushed to Aintree Hospital in an ambulance, but was pronounced dead shortly after 4pm as a result of "severe abdominal injuries".
Following an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police’s MATRIX Serious Collision Investigation Unit, detectives established Caddick was driving the Mercedes at a speed between 63 to 68mph along Little Crosby Road as he approached a left-hand bend heading towards Little Crosby village.
The speed limit for the road at this point is 30mph and immediately prior to the bend, the Mercedes was still travelling at between 57-60mph. Due to the excessive speed, Caddick was unable to negotiate the bend and travelled onto the wrong side of Little Crosby Road, where he crashed the car into the Honda.
Caddick, who appeared in a wheelchair in the dock, gave a prepared statement to detectives when eventually interviewed in July last year. In it, he said that he had suffered a "mild traumatic brain injury" and breaks to both his heels.
Martine Snowdon, defending, told the court: "He wishes his remorse, his regret and his apology, to those whose lives he knows his actions have torn apart, could in some small way make it better to those people. He knows and understands the futility of the situation he has created and the unpalatable reality.
"No sentence and no words can help. He has since that day and will while he serves in prison and for the rest of his life, by his own fault, bear the burden of breaking so many lives.
"It will deter other people from taking risks that can, in a matter of seconds, turn what was a car full of happiness and bright futures into a complete tragedy. He is a man who has, before this, lived an impeccable life.
"His service of eight years for his county is described as exemplary. He had everything to be proud of.
"As a consequence of the way he lived his life, he had the genuine love and respect from all who knew him. His life is forever changed as a consequence of what happened.
"It is clear that his injuries caused him significant pain and disability and will continue to do so to some significant extent for the rest of his life. There is no escape from the fact that he can do nothing to reduce the irreparable devastation he has caused."
Floral tributes to Claudia were left on Little Crosby Road following the crash. Her college friend Faye Dooley wrote: "Claudia was in my college class for two years, and she was the most lovely girl always had a smile on her face and always having a laugh. She will be truly missed by everyone, gone way too young."
Another friend, Jamie Bradshaw, wrote: "My heart goes out to the family of this wonderful woman. I'm devastated to find out that one of my childhood friends have passed on due to such unfortunate circumstances. Rest in peace girly, fly high."
Caddick admitted causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was jailed for five years and four months and banned from driving for eight years and eight months, and will be required to pass an extended retest.
Ms Forden's family wanted to pass on their thanks to the people who helped at the scene and carried out first aid, along with the emergency services who attended and investigated the incident.
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