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Driver who hit woman heading to gig 'had seizure'

Cheryl Dennis,Bristol Crown Courtand
Beth Cruse,West of England
Stephen Price A woman with short blonde hair is sitting on a sofa and smiling. She is resting her head on her dog which is on her shoulder, and appears to be a white Jack Russell.Stephen Price
Donna Crossman died in June 2024 on her way to a Take That concert

The driver of a car which hit a woman walking to a Take That concert was having an epileptic fit at the time, a court has heard.

Fiona Hodge, 69, from St Werburghs in Bristol, has denied causing death by careless driving after Donna Crossman, 53, died from "catastrophic injuries" after she was struck by the car in June 2024.

On Monday a jury at Bristol Crown Court heard how Crossman, who served for two decades in the RAF, had been walking across Brunel Way in Bristol when the car driven by Hodge hit her and sent her over roadside railings.

Ian Bridge, defending, told the court it is "likely that this collision happened because she was suffering from an undiagnosed condition called epilepsy".

Adam Vaitilingham KC, prosecuting, said Crossman, from Bridgend in South Wales, had been walking across the flyover on 9 June on the way to the concert at Ashton Gate Stadium with two friends that she had met in the RAF.

"[They were] looking forward to a night out seeing their favourite band," he told the jury.

"They spent the day in Clifton, [then] walked down through Hotwells."

Hodge was driving a red Citroen and had two friends in the car with her after spending the day walking in the Mendips.

The car went up onto the pavement, narrowly missing Crossman's friends before hitting Crossman, the court was told.

"It sent her over the railings and over the bridge onto the skate park," he said.

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Vaitilingham told the court that Hodge had "never had a seizure before".

He said Hodge had been asked at the scene if she had any medical conditions.

"She said she didn't," he added. "Asked if she had a medical episode, she said she did not."

But Bridge said since the accident Hodge has been formally diagnosed with the condition.

"Although she was behind the wheel she wasn't in control of the motion, she was in the throes of an epileptic seizure," he added.

The trial continues.

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