A man whose careless driving caused his girlfriend’s death in a crash near Keswick during a winter storm has been jailed.
Joseph Rowland, now 21, left his home in Thursby, near Carlisle, late afternoon on Sunday, November 28 2021, before collecting his 19-year-old partner, Lana Maddison, of Silloth, and a friend in Torpenhow.
They ate at the home of friends near Keswick before setting off home at around 8.15pm, heading back along the A591.
Carlisle Crown Court heard there was snow, ice and flooding as Storm Arwen set in during the early evening. And at around 8.30pm, Rowland’s Ford Fiesta left the road near Lyzzick Hall on a road section between Crosthwaite roundabout and Dodd Wood where the northbound route traverses a slight right hand corner.
“The car failed to make the bend and left the road at speed where it then collided with a tree,” prosecutor Andrew Evans told the court.
Miss Maddison, a 19-year-old rear seat passenger, suffered a severe brain injury from which she died in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on December 3 2021.
Other road users described weather conditions that day as awful, hazardous, appalling, and the A591 impassable at over 30mph.
Emergency services staff spoke of the care needed to negotiate the route. One experienced medic driving the second ambulance to reach the scene spoke of reducing her speed to 30mph on the A66 and then travelling even slower having joined the A591.
A police collision investigator concluded, using data from Rowland’s own car, that it was being driven at 55mph four seconds before the crash before braking, with the impact at 33mph. He was not wearing a seatbelt and later accepted his friend told him to be careful on a bend just before the crash.
Mr Evans said: “(The investigator) states that Mr Rowland was driving too fast for the conditions, which subsequently resulted in a loss of control of his vehicle which he was unable to rectify, and that this was a main contributory factor to the collision.”
Rowland was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving but later admitted the lesser alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.
During his sentencing hearing today, a statement provided by Lana’s mother, Lisa, said there were not enough words to describe the loss of a beautiful daughter and sister. “Our lives changed for ever that day,” she said. “She made our little family complete in so many ways.”
Lana — a student mental health nurse — was a real pocket rocket, a true friend to all, full of life and energy in a home full of fun, love and laughter.
“Since Lana’s tragic death our lives have been completely shattered,” said her mother. “We are absolutely devastated by our loss, there is no colour in our lives any more — only grey. Our hearts are truly broken. The hole that has been left is immeasurable.
She added: “She was kind and thoughtful, always ensuring all her friends were included and just being a true friend to all, she was full of life and energy a real little pocket rocket.
“She made our little family complete in so many ways. Lana and her brother Luke had a fantastic relationship, they would be constantly playing practical jokes on each other.
“She would fill her brothers drinking bottle up with hot water instead of cold, they would go to the shop to buy snacks and order takeaways, they watched silly videos and movies together, laughing and giggling.
“Luke was a protective big brother not that Lana needed protecting as Luke had shown her his boxing skills.
“Lana was her dad’s Liverpool footy fan, she would race down the stairs with pre match team news, they would shout, scream and celebrate together. She would never miss a chance to go in the car with her dad exploring new pool venues.
“Lana was not only my daughter, but she grew to become my best friend we would confide and support each other, spending hours, choosing clothes, sharing shoes and bags, trialling make up, she loved her mam curling and plaiting her hair, our home was full of fun, love and laughter.
“It’s difficult to see a future for us as our beautiful daughter will no longer be a part of it.
“All the little things we talked about and her plans for the future, a career in mental health nursing, she would have made a fantastic nurse and a real loss to the whole community.
“We live each day as best we can, with the beautiful memories she left us with in our hearts eternally.”
The court heard Rowland had shown genuine remorse for an offence which, suggested his barrister, Kim Whittlestone, was due to inexperience rather than irresponsibility.
Judge Nicholas Barker heard positive mitigation but imposed a 10-month prison sentence, warning young and old adults that driving brought a high burden of responsibility and extreme consequences.
“The consequences of your decision were, and remain, utterly tragic,” Judge Barker told Rowland. “I do consider you took a reckless disregard for the conditions.” He added: “You were in a relationship with Lana. I know you will bear the weight of your actions for the rest of your life.”
Rowland must serve a three-year driving ban when released from custody.
Detective Constable Caroline Middleton from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said “This is a tragic incident which resulted in the death of 19-year-old Lana.
“Cumbria was experiencing the effects of Storm Arwen which saw experienced emergency service drivers reporting dangerous conditions and having to adjust their driving accordingly.
“Those poor conditions and Rowland’s speed resulted in a loss of control and sadly the loss of Lana’s life.
“We are urging drivers to always drive to the road conditions in front of them and to consider weather warnings as potential hazards such as ice may not be visible.”
