‘She killed my son’ – Mother’s blast as driver avoids prison over crash that caused death of Wick toddler
A woman whose careless driving caused the death of a Wick toddler has avoided a custodial sentence.
Sonya Henderson (42) was instead ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work. She was also banned from driving for 25 months.
The decision provoked anger from the public benches when the toddler's mother Ashlyne Mackay shouted: "She killed my son... she has never said sorry."
Sheriff Neil Wilson was told that Henderson had wished she could have died instead of the youngster, Iain Mackay.
Henderson, of Main Street, Lybster, pleaded guilty to the indictment.
Wick Sheriff Court heard that the fatal crash occurred on the A99, 12 miles south of Wick, on August 22, 2021.
Henderson failed to maintain proper observation and her Nissan Qashqai entered the opposing carriageway into the path of an oncoming Peugeot 208, driven by Savannah Nixey.
Mrs Nixey was heading north after visiting a play park. Mrs Mackay was the front-seat passenger and Iain Mackay, 35 months old at the time, was asleep in a booster seat in the back.
Emergency services converged on the crash scene and Mrs Mackay was trapped and had to be cut free by firefighters. She was taken to hospital along with the other adults who had serious injuries.
Fiscal depute Niall MacDonald said that Iain Mackay had been receiving CPR but his prospects of survival were considered to be poor. He was transferred from Caithness General Hospital to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. His mother was with him until his life-support machine was switched off.
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Solicitor James Mackay, from Glasgow, said that Henderson was remorseful and wished she could exchange her life for that of the youngster.
He continued that words could not express the loss of a young life in what was "a terrible, terrible tragedy".
Henderson had been confused as to what side of the road the oncoming Peugeot was on, and added that she had not driven since the accident. She was a first offender and had always driven carefully.
Sentencing Henderson, Sheriff Neil Wilson said that the case had understandably raised considerable public interest.
The sheriff took into account that the accused was a first offender who had taken responsibility for her actions and avoided the need for a trial in what was "an extremely serious matter".
He expressed his condolences to the Mackay family "in their unimaginable grief”.
However, taking into account the degree of carelessness, a community-based sentence was appropriate, he said.
Henderson left the court via the cells at the back of the building.