Tragedy as driver killed 84-year-old pedestrian at 14mph whilst she was blinded by sun

Joseph Muldowney, 84, tragically passed away after he was hit by a motorist who was driving at 14mph. The driver, Denise Stott, struggled to see when the sun suddenly 'blinded' her

A driver is facing up to five years in prison after she knocked over and killed a pensioner when she was "blinded by the sun."

Denise Stott, 66, was travelling at 14mph when she struck Joseph Muldowney, 84, with her Hyundai i10 as he was crossing a T junction. The pensioner was thought to be using a walking frame at the time of the accident in Oldham, Manchester, at around 8.10am on April 3 this year.

He endured hip and pelvis injuries and died in hospital three days after the "utter tragedy". Stott told police that she was temporarily blinded by the sun as she approached the T-junction. She is not believed to have spotted Mr Muldowney crossing Sheepfoot Lane, in Oldham which has a 30mph speed limit.

Stott remained at the scene to liaise with officers. Her lawyer described the incident as a "combination of dreadful circumstances." She appeared at Tameside magistrates court this week and pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was given an interim driving disqualification pending a sentencing hearing next year.

No sentencing guidelines were given but JPs ordered an ''all options'' report. The maximum sentence she faces is five years in jail at a crown court with a minimum driving disqualification of 12 months. Peter Williams, prosecuting, said: “It is a very sad case. Mr Muldowney, an 84-year-old gentleman, was crossing the road at Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham. As he crossed the road the defendant's vehicle travelled along the highway and struck him as he was crossing the road.

“Had there been a not guilty plea the Crown would have said it was suitable for a summary trial and all options for sentencing upon conviction. The defendant appears before you with no previous convictions.” Stott's lawyer, Tim Hughes said: “This is an utter tragedy. The defendant has no previous convictions, is a lady of a certain age and has never trespassed the criminal court before. It is a combination of dreadful circumstances. It was hugely unfortunate.

"She was effectively blinded by the sun as this gentleman was crossing the road. Sheepfoot Lane meets Rochdale Road and is a T-junction. It goes slightly uphill and there are terraced houses on the opposite side. The sun, unfortunately, was just above the rooftops as my client was going up the hill. At the point of impact, she was doing 14mph.

On balance, it has been a difficult decision for the defence here but a guilty plea has been entered and a presentence report is going to be needed. At the sentencing hearing, mitigation can be placed in full before the court. With regards to disqualification. Miss Stott has not been near a car since and she has no intention of ever going near a car again.

Stott will be sentenced next January. JP Aftab Haque said: “We are going to go along with the proposal your solicitor has made, which is to order a presentence report which means that someone from the probation office will speak with you and find out a bit more about you and a bit more about what happened. All options are open. We are going to impose an interim disqualification from now.”