http://www.thisistrafford.co.uk/trafford/stretford__urmston/news/STRETFORD__URMSTON_NEWS1.html
Jehovah's Witness died after crash injuries
A Jehovah's Witness whose legs were crushed in a road accident caused when an ice cream man from Stretford dropped his cigarettes died after refusing a blood transfusion, a court heard on Tuesday.
Margaret McCracken, 57, was trapped between her camper van and a parked car that was shunted backwards when it was hit by the ice cream van.
Both her legs were smashed and one had to be amputated but Mrs McCracken refused a blood transfusion because of her religious beliefs and died two days later.
At Manchester Crown Court the ice cream salesman, Himat Singh, who was working for his family business despite never holding a driving licence, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years.
His 48-year-old father, Balbir Singh, was in the dock with him because he falsely claimed he was driving at the time of the tragedy.
Balbir Singh was jailed for four months when he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Himat Singh was told by Judge Anthony Ensor that bending down to pick up cigarettes while driving was a case of gross criminal negligence. "I take account of the fact she refused a blood transfusion because of her faith as a Jehovah's Witness, but there is no doubt that but for your poor driving this lady would have been alive today."
Andrew Long, prosecuting, said that at the time of the crash, Himat Singh was seen searching for something under the dashboard and by the time he looked up it was too late.
He hit another parked car, which was shunted backwards and Mrs McCracken was trapped.
Mr Long said the issue of Jehovah's Witness's beliefs has been decided by case law, adding: "The fact somebody has refused treatment because of religious principles is not a defence."
After the accident Singh rang his home in nearby Rosslyn Road, Stretford and his father, who also lived at the house walked to the scene, got in the van's driving seat and later told police he had been the driver.
Barry Grennan, for Himat Singh, who had a number of previous convictions for motoring offences, including driving without a licence, was devastated by the tragedy.
"He was driving very slowly and dropped his cigarettes. He picked them up, but momentarily lost control of the van. It was an unusual chain of events which could not have been anticipated and will be on his conscience for life."