THE driver of a stolen HGV which fatally hit a woman while she was walking along a pavement has admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Karn Hill, of East View, Cudworth, pleaded guilty to causing 58-year-old Jacqueline Wileman’s death on Common Road, Brierley, on September 14.
Hill, 23, admitted being the driver when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court last Friday.
He was appearing alongside David Mellor, 48, Wayne Carroll, 29, and 55-year-old Alan Mawhinney who all face charges of aggravated vehicle taking.
Mellor, of Bank End Road, Worsbrough Dale, admitted that charge.
The other two, Mawhinney, of Calder Crescent, Kendray and Carroll, of Chestnut Street, Grimethorpe, have yet to enter pleas and will face a further hearing.
Hill and Mellor have yet to be sentenced. Judge Jeremy Richardson QC remanded all four into custody ahead of the next scheduled hearing on December 7 and set a provisional trial date for Mawhinney and Carroll of February 4.
The mum-of-two was walking on the daily route she took to keep her mind off the loss of her husband, Trevor, when she was struck by the vehicle which careered into two parked cars before also hitting a new-build house on Park View.
The HGV, according to police, was travelling towards Grimethorpe when an officer in a marked patrol car, travelling in the opposite direction, turned around to follow the vehicle.
The popular woman’s daily route, which cut through Grimethorpe and Brierley, was retraced by a 40-strong group of mourners last month in her memory.
Jacqueline’s brother, Johnny Wood, watched on in court last week as Hill admitted being behind the wheel.
“It’s hard to put into words how I feel as we’re all still devastated about what’s happened,” he told the Chronicle.
“Jacqueline was walking her usual route as she always did, minding her own business.
“We can take some comfort in the guilty plea but as a family we’ll never feel the same again as I’ve lost a sister and her son and daughter have lost their mum.
“What I would like to say is a big thanks to the communities of Brierley, Cudworth, Grimethorpe and Shafton for all their support since the incident happened. They have been a huge help to our family.
“We’ve received so many wishes from people as well as all those who gave up their time to take part in the walk in Jacqueline’s memory.”
