Speeding driver who killed nan 'saw red' in 'road rage incident' a year later

Grandmother Linda Donnelly, 72, was killed when struck by a Ford Focus driven by Neil Jones as she crossed Brewster Street in Bootle, Merseyside on December 12, 2024. The incident occurred at approximately 7.45pm, with video footage capturing Mrs Donnelly reaching the central reservation before continuing to walk into the second section of the dual carriageway. She was present in the road for roughly four seconds before being struck by Jones's car.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, prosecutor Zahra Baqri detailed how a taxi driver travelling behind the 48-year-old's vehicle saw something fly into the air following the collision. Occupants of another car stopped to administer first aid. At the scene, Jones told witnesses: "I hit her I hit her It was an accident."

Jones, of Morningside Road in Norris Green, presented as extremely upset and distressed, pacing and saying "oh my God oh my God." He stated on the phone: "I'm really sorry I don't know what happened. She just walked in front me." He also claimed "it was really dark and he couldn't see anything." However, Ms Baqri stated: "The footage clearly shows that Mrs Donnelly did not run into the road."

Mrs Donnelly, known as Lin, lived mere metres from the scene with her husband. Paramedics made considerable efforts at resuscitation at the roadside, but she was later pronounced dead at Aintree Hospital as a result of multiple injuries sustained during the collision.

Just over a year later, Jones nearly ploughed his vehicle into a family at a shopping centre. Rather than apologising, he flew into a frenzy during a terrifying episode of road rage, punching a man holding his small child. Another man's legs were trapped between two cars during the incident.

Jones was arrested at the scene and performed well during impairment tests at Walton Police Station. He subsequently told detectives under interview that he simply didn't see Mrs Donnelly in the road. Investigations found Jones had been travelling at roughly 45mph or between 39mph and 51mph.