Grandmother’s household asks court docket to not jail driver who precipitated demise

The family of a pensioner killed as she travelled home from a hen weekend have asked a court to show mercy to the driver who caused her death.

Agnes ‘Jo’ Clark, 71, had been in the back seat of a car driven by Bethany Fraser.

The 19-year-old student failed to give way at a junction near Tannadice, Forfar, and collided with an oncoming Land Rover.

Four passengers including Mrs Clark, the grandmother of Fraser’s ex-partner, were hurt along with three people who were in the Land Rover.

Agnes ‘Jo’ Clark, 71, had been in the back seat of a car driven by Bethany Fraser when the student failed to give way at a junction and collided with an oncoming Land Rover

Fraser admitted to causing death by driving without due care or attention at Forfar Sheriff Court (file photo)

Mrs Clark, of Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee five days later, on August 25, 2023.

At Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday, Fraser, of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, admitted causing death by driving without due care or attention. 

She said she had been following her satnav and did not realise it was a junction, the court heard.

Mrs Clark, a former receptionist, is survived by her partner George McBain, two daughters and four grandchildren.

In a statement, the family said: ‘Bethany is not a bad person. We know she did not set out to cause a tragedy that day.

‘It is important that any outcome reflects the seriousness of what happened, but we don’t want to see another life ruined by a jail term.’

Sheriff Garry Sutherland deferred sentence until September 18.