Young Draperstown woman left scene after 'dozing off' and crashing car, court told

Twenty-year-old Kay-Shanelle Conway from Cavanreagh Road, Draperstown, was also handed five penalty points on charges of careless driving, failing to report an accident, failing to remain at the scene and using a vehicle when the number of passengers carried involved a danger.

Imposing the penalties, District Judge Conor Heaney told the defendant she had made two poor decisions, firstly driving when she was probably too tired, and then making away from the scene when she should have stayed.

The court heard on June 8 last year at 2.15 am, police received a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision at Mayogall Road, Gulladuff.

Prosecuting counsel said driver had left the scene and there was substantial damage to the vehicle which was in the middle of the road. He said it appeared the vehicle had struck the grass verge and hedge.

The lawyer said the reporting person said the people in the car had made off on foot.

Counsel said the defendant was later located and there had been five passengers in the vehicle. Convery was cautioned and during interview made a full admission and said she had dozed off and when she woke up she had panicked and left.

A defence lawyer, who handed into court two character references, explained the defendant had gone to pick up her boyfriend in Portglenone and the other passengers had just “jumped in" although she had not agreed to this.

He asked the court to consider that it had happened “very late at night” when the defendant was tired and had made a mistake and crashed the vehicle and then left the scene.

Counsel stressed that nothing had been damaged as a result of the incident.

The lawyer said Convery cared for children with special needs, and pleaded with the court not to impose a disqualification as she required her licence to continue her employment.

Judge Heaney remarked that he would not interfere with her licence given the defendant’s caring responsibilities.