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Search forUpper Norwood man caught up in fatal crash fined more than driver of car which caused it
Thursday, August 21, 2008, 20:58
Peter Brooks, 56, of Gatestone Road, Upper Norwood, was driving in Ipswich when he was unable to swerve clear of a car which had overturned onto its roof.
Samuel Clements, 19, the unlicensed and uninsured driver of a Renault, had lost control of his vehicle last December.
A passenger, Sarah Gaecke, died when Brooks crashed into the car.
An investigator said tests had shown it was most likely a badly defective tyre on Clements' car caused him to lose control. But Brooks' Polo also had a tyre which was not correctly inflated.
On Thursday last week he pleaded guilty via post at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to using a motor vehicle with an incorrectly inflated tyre.
Clements had pleaded guilty in July to using a motor vehicle with a defective tyre and driving without insurance or a licence.
Sarah's mum Vici reacted with fury after Brooks was fined £410, while Clements was fined £345.
Mrs Gaecke said the justice system was "a complete shambles" and does not blame Mr Brooks for the accident last year. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"I feel no antagonism towards him," she said. To learn he received a harsher punishment than Clements who didn't have a licence and insurance – I'm speechless."
died: Sarah
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