POLICE described the death of a retired head teacher killed by a motorist driving the wrong way down a motorway as "a tragic case where an innocent woman has unnecessarily lost her life.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Ann Marie Crook, 43, drove a black Renault Clio dangerously on the East Lancashire Road on October 31, 2019 before entering an M57 slip road in Kirkby.

Crook, of Cheviot Avenue, Parr crashed into victim Paula Kingdon’s blue Honda Jazz, with the 64-year-old later dying after being airlifted to hospital.

Ms Kingdon was a retired head teacher of Westfield Infants School, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

 

Paula Kingdon

Paula Kingdon

A judge said Crook’s action was “a profoundly selfish one” if she intended to end her own life “as you were prepared to injure or kill others to achieve your goal”.

Crook had earlier been seen driving at speeds in excess of 90mph on the East Lancs at Windle Island, in a 40mph zone, five miles away before the crash.

READ MORE > Woman who killed retired head teacher in crash after driving wrong way down motorway jailed

Roads Policing Inspector Stuart McIver said: "This was a tragic incident and our thoughts today are very much with the family of Paula who described her as a caring auntie and devoted former head teacher of Westfield School in Chesterfield.

"Her sudden death impacted on the whole Westfield school community and her neighbours in Meersbrook, Sheffield where Paula lived.”

“This is a tragic case where an innocent woman has unnecessarily lost her life”.

“Crook has been left in no doubt about the consequences of her actions, and I hope she will reflect on the impact this has had on the victim’s family.

"I hope this long-awaited result will give Paula’s family some sense of closure so they can remember her as the person they loved and cared for almost two years on from this heart-breaking day.”