Teen admits texting before fatal crash

Link: BBC NEWS | England | Death crash driver admits texting

The BBC are reporting that a 19-year-old driver has admitted sending a text message whilst driving shortly before causing a fatal crash. The incident, which happened in November 2006 near Newcastle Airport, resulted in the death of a 74-year-old County Durham grandmother.

Rachel Begg pleaded guilty to causing the death of County Durham grandmother Maureen Waites by dangerous driving. At Newcastle Crown Court, the judge warned Begg, of Whinbank in Ponteland, that a prison term was inevitable.

Ms Waites, a self-employed hairdresser, from Wellfield Road North in Wingate, was on her way to pick up a relative from the airport when she died. Judge John Milford QC adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and said: “This will determine the length of the custodial sentence you will receive in due course.”