[A] MAN has admitted causing the death of a West Cumbria pensioner by dangerous driving in a crash which left her friend critically injured.
Stephen Alan Farragher faced two charges when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court today (MON).
Farragher, 47, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Audrey Tunstall – aged 79 and from Seaton – while driving a Volkswagen car dangerously on the A596 at Workington. He also admitted his dangerous driving caused serious injury to her fellow pedestrian, Natalli Fisher.
It follows an incident near the town’s Dunmail Park shopping centre on October 22 last year. The pensioner suffered fatal injuries in the collision, and police said at the time that her friend Ms Fisher was left critically injured.
The court heard Farragher, of Thirlmere Avenue, Workington, would be submitting a basis for his guilty pleas. Michael Rawlinson, defending, said Farragher “accepts, absolutely, his culpability”, and stated that “excessive speed” caused the collision.
Judge Peter Davies adjourned the case. Farragher – described as a father-of-two and a man of previous good character – was granted bail until his sentencing hearing at the crown court on November 2, and handed an interim driving ban.
Judge Davies told him that “all options”, including a prison term, would be open on that date.
