A Caerphilly man who ran over and killed his step sister while taking part in an illegal road race has been jailed for seven years.
Aaron Bridgeman, 35, of Lansbury Park, had been racing a friend on a motorbike when his step-sister Vicky fell from it and into the path of his speeding Peugeot.
Bridgeman, who does not have a driving licence, ran his 40-year-old step-sister over before she was hit by another car.
Biker Jason Szalkowski was also thrown from the motorcycle and left with brain damage after hitting floodwater in Pandy Lane, Bedwas.
Bridgeman then fled the scene because he did not want to be caught driving a borrowed car without insurance.
He pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and insurance, to fleeing the scene of a crime and of failing to report an accident.
Bridgeman was jailed for seven years and banned from driving for six years.
Sentencing him at Newport Crown Court on March 27, Judge Daniel Willliams said: “You never passed a driving test but that did not stop you from driving almost every day.
“You thought that the rules of the road did not apply to you. Your driving was terribly dangerous.
“Driving conditions that day were terribly hazardous but you knew that would make the race even better and you used that narrow lane as a race track.
“You were driving at a grossly excessive speed, driving the car at its limit to keep up with the motorbike.
“You drove into your sister – driving so close to the bike it could not be avoided.
“You took a cursory look at your sister and Mr Szalkowski and calmy drove off.”
At a previous hearing, the court heard that Bridgeman was “right behind” the motorcycle when his step-sister fell into the road.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: “Bridgeman simply wasn’t able to avoid his own step-sister as she went over the front of his car.”
Bridgeman briefly stopped his car before fleeing the scene of the accident in December 2013, the court was told.
Mr Bennett added: “He looked briefly at Jason Szalkowski, who he knew well, and at the body of his own step-sister.
“He then got promptly back into his car and drove off.”
Bridgeman later handed himself into the police.
Ms Bridgeman was run over by another car as she lay in the road. The driver thought he had hit a sheep because of her white jumper.
Mr Bennett said it was “impossible” to say which impact killed Ms Bridgeman – also known as Claire – but that she died as a result of the race.
Mr Szalkowski could have faced prosecution but it was decided it was ‘not in the public interest’ because he was so seriously injured.
This post makes out jason szalkowski was the innocent party in this ????
He to shouldn’t of been driving
He’s caused accidents in the past yer he was left with brain damage but he should be locked up as well
This post makes out jason szalkowski was the innocent party in this ????
He to shouldn’t of been driving
He’s caused accidents in the past yer he was left with brain damage but he should be locked up as well
Perhaps his injuries were punishment enough?
Perhaps his injuries were punishment enough?