A driver who fatally crashed into a woman after aquaplaning on the M62 at 80mph has escaped jail time.
Peter Maddrell, 57, collided with fellow driver Paula Heaney shortly after entering the motorway from the junction 5 Roby sliproad in the early hours of January 28 2021. Maddrell cut across three lanes of traffic in a diagonal motion to reach the third lane, and had been driving on the rainy motorway for just over a mile when he hit a pool of water and lost control of his car.
He skidded across the width of the motorway and crashed into some trees before spinning back onto the road, where he crashed head-on with Ms Heaney, who was on her way to work at Thatto Heath Co-Op.
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The 57-year-old, from Everton, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
Maddrell, of Warbrook Road, Roby, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. The CPS had initially wanted to pursue a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but the lesser plea was accepted in May 2023.
At Liverpool Crown Court today, June 23, prosecutor Damian Nolan played police car footage showing the dark, rainy conditions on the unlit stretch of motorway where the crash took place.
Royal Mail worker Maddrell, who was travelling to Warrington on a route he had been taking for 23 years, had been driving at around 80mph when he hit the puddle which had gathered in a 55mm defect in the road due to a blocked drain nearby.
Mr Nolan said: "Water this deep would not normally be experienced in even poor conditions on the motorway. Even in that rainfall, the road would be expected to allow for drainage. What happened here was the water gathered in the depression in the road, which could have been a contributing factor in causing the car to aquaplane.
"Due to the road being wet, this water may not have been identifiable by Maddrell on his approach. The lighting conditions and the headlights may not have offered much assistance."
The crash caused the front lights on Maddrell's car to break, making the out-of-control vehicle difficult to see on the unlit road.
The court heard Ms Heaney, who was driving behind Maddrell at around 70mph, would have had just 2.5 seconds to respond to Maddrell's car skidding in front of her - making the resulting collision "inevitable". Two other vehicles also sustained minor damage.
Tom Gent, defending Maddrell, said: "He is extremely remorseful. There's no doubt this is a man who will be forever haunted by what happened that morning... He has shown clear insight and empathy. The probation office was of the view that this will remain with him for the rest of his life."
He added the faulty road, maintained by Knowsley Council, had been resurfaced and its drain unblocked in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Judge Gary Woodhall said Paula's death had devastated her family and her sister Maria. He said: "Maria described her sister as a hard-working person who was unique, with a kind heart, who was loved by many.
"No sentence I could impose today can in any way fill the void caused by Paula's death or compensate the family for the dreadful and untimely loss of life."
However, he accepted Maddrell had shown "genuine remorse", and that he had no previous convictions or driving offences.
He sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for 15 months, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also given a 15 month driving ban.
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