A MAN has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a woman from Conwy by driving carelessly.

Andrew Newton, 69, of Robinettes Lane, Nottinghamshire, admitted the charge at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court today (August 16).

Marilynn Kerrigan died aged 68 on May 19, 2022 following a crash on the A470 near Dolwyddelan.

Newton will be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on September 8.

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The court heard that Newton was driving a vintage Daimler vehicle, carrying Ms Kerrigan as a passenger, having spent the day at Llyn Crafnant together.

But as he attempted to negotiate a left-hand bend, Newton crossed to the other side of the carriageway, causing a head-on collision with a Renault Captur travelling in the opposite direction.

A passenger in the Renault Captur, the wife of the man driving the vehicle, was left trapped in the car as a result of the crash.

Ms Kerrigan was assisted from the Daimler, and though cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Newton, as well as the man and wife in the Renault vehicle, were all taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The defendant had to be released from his vehicle by firefighters, before being flown to hospital via air ambulance.

Injuries to the couple in the Renault vehicle included a broken wrist, fractured ribs and internal bleeding.

Newton sustained a broken ankle, metatarsal, left wrist, right eye socket and ribs, and had his jaw broken in two places.

Investigations concluded that the crash was due to “driver’s error”, with no other contributory factors.

A post-mortem examination found that Ms Kerrigan died due to multiple crush injuries.

When interviewed by police on November 11, 2022, Newton confirmed he had held a full UK driving licence for the last 50 years.

He said he could not remember the layout of the road where the crash had occurred.

Officers also asked Newton to explain why he veered over to the other side of the road, to which he replied: “I can’t”.

Newton, who has one previous conviction for 16 offences in 2011, all for unrelated matters, received an interim disqualification from driving until he is sentenced.

He was granted unconditional bail until September 8.

Following her death, Ms Kerrigan’s family said: “It is with great sadness we announce the sad loss of our beloved sister and aunt in a tragic accident.

"She was always a very loving and generous person, who was enjoying life to the full and will be greatly missed by her family and all the many friends who knew her.

“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the other people involved in this terrible tragedy. We, her family, are devastated and will find it hard to come to terms with her loss.

"The family would like to give their profound thanks to the emergency services and the members of the public who assisted Marilynn at the scene of this tragic accident, and to North Wales Police for their compassion and professionalism dealing with such tragic circumstances."