Driver who fled fatal A39 motorcycle crash scene is jailed

A MAN who tried to cover up his part in a road crash in which a woman died on the A39 near Holford has been jailed for six months.

Sean Coates, aged 29, of Alcove Road, Bristol, was eventually caught by police, and this week he appeared in Taunton Crown Court.

Coates admitted causing the death by careless driving of nurse Stacey Steer, aged 52, who was a pillion passenger on her husband Carl’s motorcycle on May 30 last year.

The court heard Coates was driving his white Audi saloon car on the A39 at Holford when he pulled out to pass a slow moving vehicle without seeing Mr Steer’s motorcycle had already started overtaking the line of traffic.

Coates collided with the Triumph Tiger motorcycle, knocking both Mr and Mrs Steer off the machine.

However, Coates made no attempt to stop or call the emergency services and he drove off from the scene of the crash.

Mrs Steer was airlifted to hospital where she died later the same day from her injuries. 

Police launched a search for Coates' car, and when they eventually found it they discovered he had attempted to clean the vehicle using wet wipes for babies.

On Monday, Judge Paul Cook sentenced Coates to 26 weeks’ imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for two years and 10 weeks.

Judge Cook said the act of failing to stop was ‘cruel’ to the Steer family.

He told Coates: “Your actions showed a complete desolation of the family's life.

“A basic sense of compassion and empathy should have compelled you to stop at the scene.

“The aggravating factor of this case is not the manner of your driving, but your actions afterwards.”

Police forensic collision investigation lead Andy Roebuck said: “This was a tragic incident which cost Stacey her life.

“Our thoughts have been and remain with Carl and his family in this difficult time.

“The investigation brought numerous officers and staff together, who worked tirelessly in securing this prosecution.

“The action of Coates is beyond comprehension, not only with his manner of driving, but his subsequent attempts to protect himself from being brought to justice.

“Thankfully, the swift actions of those attending officers found Coates and his Audi.

“While this sentence will not bring Stacey back, we hope it will provide her family with some justice and closure as they prepare to move forward without her.”

Mr Steer, of Merthyr Tydfil, paid tribute to his late wife, telling the court: “Stacey was the very core of our family, she held a place in all our hearts that I cannot describe in words.

“If you could have met her, you would have liked her, Stacey was that sort of person.

“Stacey spent her life dedicated to her family and her work as an intensive care nurse, never thinking of herself, always others.

“Through her gift of organ donation other people and their families have been given fresh hope.

“Even after her passing, she would still be saving lives, exactly what Stacey would have wanted.

“The worst part is not that we have lost Stacey, she was part of our lives and we will always be grateful, but Stacey will never hold our grandson, and he will never get to be loved by such a wonderful person.

“For her life to be taken away so senselessly is only compounded by the complete disregard Coates had for his actions, by not only fleeing the scene, but by making every effort to save himself from justice with no thought of the lives he had destroyed.

“There will never be a sentence long enough in our eyes for what he has done.

“Hopefully, others will see the devastation caused to our family and friends as a deterrent to driving carelessly, and if one life is saved, then at least some good can come of this tragedy.”

Mr Steer thanked the efforts of Avon and Somerset police officers in bringing Coates to justice, and all the help and support they had given the family.

He said: “Stacey will never be forgotten, and we will do all in our power to honour her memory.”