A mother-of-two who careered into an Age UK minibus causing the death of a pensioner and the serious injury of three others was speeding to work when the horror crash happened.

But Rebecca Hickey escaped jail despite admitting causing the death of Eileen Murray, known as Pat, was 77 by careless driving in Marine Parade, Sheerness, in January last year.

The minibus was hit by a black Peugeot 307 driven by 36-year-old Hickey, who wept as she pleaded guilty.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that she was travelling at 49mph in the 30mph limit before she lost control. Her car hit two kerbs before ploughing into the bus in which four pensioners were on their way to lunch.

Van driver John Summers' foot was trapped but, despite being in pain, he freed himself and tried to rescue his passengers.

Hickey, of Alma Road, Sheerness, escaped being sent to jail despite being caught speeding again just months after the death crash.

She was given a 12-month prison sentence but because of her two children it was suspended for two years. She was also banned from driving for two years.

Another pensioner travelling in the van died later, but the court heard that was of natural causes.

A third pensioner, Gloria Scowen, received such serious chest and leg injuries that she had to sell the house she had lived in for 61 years and move into a residential home. She also had find a new home for her pet dog.

A fourth passenger was in hospital for four months as a result of the crash.

The court heard that Hickey was on her way to work but lost control on a bend and hit the minibus head on. Mr Summers was knocked unconscious by the force of the impact and ended up with his foot trapped under the clutch pedal.

When he came to, he could hear his passengers screaming. All were taken to Medway Maritime Hospital where Mrs Murray of The Maples, The Broadway, Minster, suffered a cardiac arrest and died the next day on January 17.

Police crash investigators discovered that the Peugeot had two under-inflated rear tyres.

Hickey was quizzed by police and told officers the minibus came towards her and that she had been driving competently and carefully.

She also said claims she had been speeding were "ridiculous" until police produced CCTV and witness evidence.

Stella Harris, defending, said: "The mother-of-two is truly deeply sorry for the pain which she has caused and she carries with her the consequences and the sense of shame every day."

She said divorcee Hickey also received "life-threatening injuries" in the crash, is still receiving surgery and is unable to work.

She added: "While not having suicidal thoughts, she does wish she wasn't around any more and thinks the world would be better off without her."

She told the court: "She is now a changed person. I ask as an act of mercy for the prison sentence to be suspended. She is genuinely remorseful."

Judge Charles Gratwicke told Hickey it wasn't clear what caused her to lose control but added: "The result of your driving was catastrophic."

He said he was suspending the jail sentence because of her children. He did not order her to take a re-test when her driving ban is over.

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