A high-flying Porsche sales manager stressed about losing his job left two teenage girls with life-changing injuries after he drove down the wrong side of the road and crashed head-first into their car, Lincoln Crown Court has been told.
Adam Hill, 35, of Grimsby Road, Caistor, faces jail after being found guilty of two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the A46 near Market Rasen, on December 18, 2013.
Beth Tyson and Kate Hunter EMN-150623-082538001
Judge Pini QC told the jury: “This case, as you know, is an absolute tragedy. Bethany and Kate’s lives will never be the same.”
Best friends Beth Tyson and Kate Hunter, both then 18, had just left a field off the A46 after a couple of hours tending to horses.
The court was told driver Beth saw lights coming towards her Fiesta and seconds later the crash happened - before she had any time to react.
Hill, who had just got engaged, had been heading home from Lincoln in his Audi A6 but was ‘distracted’.
Beth Tyson and Kate Hunter's crash EMN-150623-082431001
He had just lost his job at a Sheffield Porsche dealership after being accused of theft.
The court was told he stopped twice to use his phone and on his final stop in Middle Rasen, less than four minutes before the crash, he had typed a message to a friend asking for a job - but did not send it.
Prosecuting, Jonathan Dunne said: “He (Hill) must have been, for a period of time, distracted. No-one’s suggesting he deliberately drove into this vehicle, we’re simply suggesting he wasn’t paying attention. He’s told you (the jury) he was under a great deal of stress that day.”
Defending, Matthew Gent said a neurologist had said it was possible Hill had a seizure just before the crash.
Mr Gent said: “No-one can help but feel sorry for Bethany and Kate. He expressed his regret and sympathy.
“He said he simply didn’t know what happened.”
Judge Pini QC said custody was the ‘overwhelmingly likely sentence’.
On Monday, June 15, Hill received bail and has been banned from driving until he is sentenced on July 20.
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