A WOMAN is due to be sentenced next month after she admitted “deliberately” driving into the path of an oncoming HGV while travelling the wrong way along an A66 dual carriageway near Keswick.
Kathryn Clarke Yglecias, 48, pleaded guilty to one offence when she appeared at Carlisle Crown Court.
Yglecias, an American national, admitted driving a Citroen C1 dangerously in the early hours of October 20 last year. As she drove westbound initially along lane two of the eastbound carriageway of the road close to Keswick, before her vehicle swerved and collided with an HGV which was travelling correctly in lane one at around 1am.
Kim Whittlestone, defending, told the court there was dash cam video footage – from the lorry cab – which captured the crash. “She has no memory of this incident and received significant injuries for which she is still being treated,” said Miss Whittlestone.
“It appears it was a positive and deliberate act, which she accepts.”
Although Yglecias, of Long Corner Cottage, Grange, near Keswick, had been discharged from a mental health crisis team with which she had been in contact, she was looking for support within the community.
Her case was adjourned by Judge Peter Davies for the preparation of psychiatric and probation service pre-sentence reports.
And Miss Whittlestone said: “The hope is she is regaining her strength and we will be able to place significant material before the court to support the imposition of a suspended sentence.”
Yglecias was bailed, handed an interim driving ban and is due to be sentenced at the crown court on March 16.