Zoe Graham avoids jail after serious crash near Ringmer

Zoe Graham, 38, broke down in court as she told a judge she was sorry after smashing her Range Rover into mum-of-three Samantha Keen on August 9, 2023.

Graham said she was late to pick up her own kids from school when she overtook a line of cars, illegally crossing a double white line.

She was spared jail after admitting causing serious injury by careless driving.

Zoe Graham at Hove Crown Court today (June 29) (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Mrs Keen was turning right, crossing the carriageway in front of Graham, who crashed into her at at least 50mph near Ringmer.

A court heard she pleaded with paramedics not to leave her children orphaned after losing her husband in another car accident a year before.

In a victim statement, Mrs Keen said the crash had had a huge impact on her family.

At an earlier hearing the court heard all Mrs Keen wanted was acknowledgment and an apology.

She said: "This has had a huge impact on our lives.

"The children could see I had a serious injury.

"They thought they were going to lose their only living parent."

Mrs Keen's 13-year-old daughter has been very affected by the crash, the court heard.

After the crash, summer plans were cancelled and the family had to move in with Mrs Keen’s mother.

"I have permanent physical and mental difficulties," she said.

She suffers from anxiety caused by 'ugly scars on my face' and will need medication for the foreseeable future.

Mrs Keen also had to give up kickboxing and experiences increased anxiety in cars.

She described the whole incident as "heart-breaking," adding "all of this could have been avoided". 

Graham, of Heathfield, East Sussex, wept as she recalled the incident.

Crying in the dock, she said: "I’m so sorry.

"My children and I went through nine years of domestic violence.

"My ex used to make me really late or wouldn’t let me pick them up which made them really anxious.

"I have an autistic child.

"When I saw the double white lines.

"I thought there was a break in the lines.

"I was a little bit late to pick my boys up.

"They suffer with anxiety and I felt the need to get there.

"I saw the tractor and I hit her.

"I’ve never hurt anybody in my life and I would never.

"I’m a mum and I would never have wanted to put anyone through this.

"We are both mums and I know what children go through.

"I’m so sorry this happened because I would never want to put anyone through this."

Ms Graham was travelling at a speed of at least 50mph at the time of the crash (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Lewes Crown Court in Hove heard Graham was originally charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The Crown accepted her guilty plea to the lesser charge of causing serious injury by careless driving.

Despite overtaking a line of cars, the court heard she was not breaking the speed limit.

Rachel Beckett for the Crown described the horrific scene after the crash.

She told the court Mrs Keen was driving her children to an animal welfare centre.

Her eldest daughter was in the front passenger seat and the other two children, a boy and girl, were sitting in the back.

It was a bright, sunny day with good visibility, the court heard.

She said: "As she approached her turning, Mrs Keen indicated and slowed down.

"She was suddenly hit by defendant who she hadn’t seen.

"Another driver saw the multi-vehicle overtake before hitting victim.

"She was described as coming at speed behind them, contravening the double white lines.

"Mrs Keen said everything went white, then black and she reached into the back seat for her children.

"She screamed for help.

"The car called 999 automatically.

"When the paramedics arrived, she begged them not to let her die and she couldn’t leave her children without a parent.

"One of the children asked if mummy was going to where daddy is."

Mrs Keen had to be cut from the wreckage.

Ms Beckett continued: "The defendant said her name was Zoe and she was so sorry.

"She was screaming and crying, saying ‘I was late to pick up my two boys’."

Mrs Keen suffered damage to her right hip, leg and ribs.

Her right ankle was broken and she suffered scarring to her face.

She has to take anti-migraine medication for headaches and intermittent dizziness.

All three children have PTSD caused by the crash, the court heard.

"The defendant was driving at 54mph, plus or minus four MPH," Ms Beckett said.

"She said she was in a rush and needed to pick up her kids.

"She could see a tractor and pulled out to overtake."

Rhys Rosser for the defence said there are ongoing proceedings for compensation.

He told the court, Graham was extremely sorry and admitted the overtaking was an unsafe manoeuvre.

"She is very clear she is extremely sorry for what has happened and what the victim has gone through.

"They are both parents and she knows what the victim must have gone through on that day."

His Honour Judge David Rennie told Graham: "The pre-sentence report has given me a wealth of information about you, your family and your background.

"I’ve read references from people who know you very well and they speak very highly of you.

"I’ve read and considered the report from the consultant psychiatrist.

"I regard what you did on this occasion as wholly out of character.

"I have no doubt you are deeply, deeply sorry for what you did to - as you say - another mum."

The crash had a profound and ongoing impact on Mrs Keen and her family, the judge said.

"Life is pretty grim for her and I know you get it," the judge said.

"If you had driven in the way you were supposed to.

"This is one of those horrendous cases where two families have been left devastated by the nature of the driving.

"I’m confident you will never, ever behave in a way which will bring you back to court."

Graham was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months and banned from driving for a year.

She will also have to do seven rehabilitation days.