A man has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, in a crash in which 52-year-old Stacey Steer sadly lost her life while travelling as a pillion passenger, Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed.
Sean Coates, of Alcove Road, Bristol, was jailed for more than six months yesterday (December 19) at Taunton Crown Court, after they heard how he pulled out to overtake a slow-moving vehicle and failed to see the motorcycle had already started overtaking the traffic in front of them both at Holford on the A39 in Somerset.
Coates had then pulled out in an effort to overtake and collided with the motorbike, knocking both riders - Mrs Steer and her husband, Carl - off the bike.
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Stacey’s husband, Carl Steer, pays tribute to his late wife. He said: “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 Mr 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 deterrent to driving carelessly, and if one life is saved, then at least some good can come of this tragedy.
“Our family would like to thank all the efforts of Avon and Somerset Police, for the work they have done bringing Mr Coates to justice, and all the help and support they have given us.
“Stacey will never be forgotten, and we will do all in our power to honour her memory.”
The court also heard how Coates made no attempt to stop or call the emergency services and left the scene. Officers conducted a search for Coates’ car, which was located. It was discovered he had attempted to clean the car with baby wipes.
Stacey was airlifted to hospital where she sadly later died.
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