A pensioner who knocked over an 86-year-old woman while driving has been fined £2,500 and banned from driving for two years.

Vivien Roma Proven failed to see the pedestrian at the give way junction of Royal Avenue West and Port Jack in Onchan.

The victim was hit by Proven’s car and thrown into the air, landing on the road and suffering a double bilateral pelvic fracture.

She spent six weeks in hospital.

Proven, who is 84 years old, had previously pleaded not guilty to causing serious bodily harm by careless driving, with a trial set to take place on February 24, but on Thursday she changed her plea to guilty.

Magistrates also ordered her to pay £800 prosecution costs, due to the preparation work done for the trial, and take an extended driving test at the end of her ban.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Proven was driving on Royal Avenue West on January 2 last year, at 11.30am, heading towards Port Jack.

The pedestrian was crossing the road when she was hit by Proven.

CCTV footage showed that she had made no effort to slow down or give way at the junction.

Proven, who lives at Sea Cliff Road, Onchan, said that she believed she had touched another vehicle so got out and found the 86-year-old in the road.

Two witnesses described Proven as ’flying at speed’ around the corner.

When interviewed by police, Proven denied hitting the woman and said she believed she was already injured as a result of a fall.

She said that the sun had affected her vision.

An eye test showed that Proven failed to meet the required standards.

Proven told police: ’The sun was blazing in my eyes. The so-called witness who said I was driving too fast ... maybe he just likes being a witness.’

A victim impact statement was read out which was written by the complainant in February 2021. In it, she said could no longer live a full and industrious life, and that she needed a carer in her home.

She said she suffered from anxiety and sleeplessness and relied on a number of aids such as a Zimmer frame, crutches, and a seat in the shower.

Mr Kane said that it may have been helpful to get a more up to date victim impact statement to hear about her current condition.

Defence advocate David Reynolds said: ’It is not denied there have been serious injuries, obviously aggravated by the complainant’s age.’

victim

Mr Reynolds asked for sentencing to go ahead without a further victim impact statement, as he said delaying matters further would only add more stress to the complainant and defendant.

The advocate said that the case had been delayed due to the preparation of an expert’s report and his own client’s ill health.

’There is remorse. At the time, Ms Proven got out of the vehicle and tried to check the complainant was OK,’ said Mr Reynolds.

’She asked the police about the welfare of the complainant and wanted to check how she was but that was not appropriate due to the ongoing proceedings.

’This was a momentary lapse. Ms Proven had been out shopping. She has driven that road on many occasions before and wasn’t in any rush.

’There has been reference to driving at speed, but she has always maintained she was driving to the road circumstances.

’It is clear from the CCTV that she was driving at the same speed as other drivers that day.

’The sun was very low and she was momentarily blinded by that.’

Mr Reynolds went on to say that the loss of Proven’s licence would have a significant impact as she lived on a very steep drive which she could only get up and down in her vehicle, and she would likely now have to move address.

Regarding the eye test, the advocate said that Proven was not happy with the conditions during her test and she had since been tested by an optician who had deemed her fit to drive.

Magistrates ordered Proven to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £80 per month.