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Man Sentenced for Careless Driving Resulting in Fatality in Pontypool
A man has been sentenced after admitting to causing the death of a woman and seriously injuring two others through careless driving. Ronald Dowling, 61, from Salop Street in Caerphilly, was involved in an incident on October 26, 2023, along the A4042 New Inn in Pontypool, where he lost control of his Maserati Ghibli and collided with a parked vehicle.
The vehicle struck Sharon Berry’s black Audi A3, which she had parked in a layby due to adverse weather conditions, particularly heavy rain. During the sentencing at Merthyr Crown Court, Judge Celia Hughes described Mrs Berry’s death as “completely senseless,” noting she was “simply sitting in her car by the roadside that day.” The collision resulted in the death of Mrs Berry, aged 54, while Dowling’s wife, Kim, who was seated in the front passenger seat, and their friend, Jane Beedell, seated in the back, were both seriously injured. The pair were en route to a hospital appointment at the time of the incident.
A statement from Mrs Berry’s son, Luke Berry, was read in court, expressing the profound impact of her loss on his life, stating that she was “the glue which held their family together” and that “losing her will be something he carries with him for the rest of his life.”
During the proceedings, it was also noted that the incident had “profoundly changed” Dowling, who expressed “deep regret and remorse.” He was sentenced to 27 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was required to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
