Plea to diabetics following fatal road crash

Suzanne Meredith, 52, was walking hand-in-hand with husband Julian just a mile from their home in Sully, South Wales, when a Subaru driven by Phillip Willey ploughed into them. The mother of three, who worked with diabetics in her role as a district nurse, died of multiple injuries at the scene. Mr Meredith, 55, suffered severe leg and arm injuries.

Insulin-dependent diabetic Willey, 46, was found to have blood glucose levels of just 1.9 millimoles per litre when tested by paramedics after the crash on May 31, 2006. The lowest recommended level for diabetics is four millimoles per litre.

In a statement, the Meredith family urged diabetics to carefully monitor their condition. The statement read: "If just one life can be saved and just one family can be spared the suffering we will have to endure for the rest of our lives, then Suzanne's life would not have been in vain."

'Gross mismanagement'

Willey, of Wood Street, Penarth, South Wales, stood trial after initially denying causing death by dangerous driving, but later changed his plea and admitted the charge. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Cardiff Crown Court today.

Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones QC told Willey that the crash could have been averted by him checking his blood glucose levels.

He said: "If you had done that before you set off on this late afternoon, that reading undoubtedly would have shown that your blood sugar reading was low, and a lump of sugar and a short break would have prevented this tragic accident."

The judge said Willey's "gross mismanagement" of his diabetes caused the crash, which was "an accident waiting to happen".

Failed to notify

The court heard how Willey, who worked at RAF St Athan, South Wales, had failed to check his blood glucose levels in the 12 months leading up to the tragedy. He told police he could remember little about what had happened.

Willey was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1995. The court was told he had missed GP appointments and failed to notify the DVLA, insurers and his employers when he was diagnosed with diabetes, despite the fact that his job involved driving.

A Diabetes UK spokesman said: "We would always emphasise that it is important for people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose appropriately, and to maintain safe blood glucose levels when driving."