An 80-year-old grandfather died after being struck by a car whose driver's visibility was obscured by stuffed toys dangling from her rear-view mirror. Rosemarie Ozsko, 65, hit John Nottingham as he crossed a road in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on March 1, 2024. Mr. Nottingham succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
Ozsko was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving. The court heard that Ozsko struck Mr. Nottingham as she entered a left-hand filter lane after passing through a traffic light sequence that was changing from amber to red.
Crash investigators determined that the stuffed toys hanging from Ozsko's mirror had 'significantly affected' her visibility. West Yorkshire Police stated that a clearer view of Mr. Nottingham would have been possible had the toys not been present. Ozsko, who is from Wakefield, also received a two-year driving disqualification.
Mr. Nottingham's family remembered him as a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Detective Sergeant Steve Suggitt of West Yorkshire Police emphasized the importance of road safety, adherence to the highway code, and maintaining a clear windscreen. He warned drivers against placing items such as mobile phones or Sat Navs in a position that could impede their ability to see the road and others. "The tragic passing of Mr. Nottingham should serve as a warning to other drivers, and our thoughts remain with his loved ones," Suggitt said.