Man, 88, dies in Leicestershire crash caused by wrong-side driver

Michael Wilson, 88, died after a two-vehicle collision in Gilmorton in December 2023. Bethan Clarke received a suspended sentence for causing death by careless driving.

Family mourns 'devoted father' killed in Gilmorton road collision

An 88-year-old man who died after a crash in Leicestershire has been remembered by his family as "the rock" of their lives, bbc.co.uk reports.

Michael Wilson died on 4 December 2023 following a two-vehicle collision on Lutterworth Road in Gilmorton. The crash occurred at around 11:00; Wilson suffered serious injuries and died later that day in hospital.

Bethan Clarke, 35, of Grange Road, Wigston, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday to 16 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified from driving for 12 months. She had previously admitted causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving.

Footage reviewed by Leicestershire Police showed Clarke had been travelling in the opposite direction to Wilson but crossed onto the wrong side of the road, causing the collision.

In a statement released following the sentencing, Wilson's family described him as a man who "lived a life grounded in kindness, integrity, and quiet strength".

"He loved driving and spending time with his grandchildren, facing each day with generosity and warmth," the statement read.

The family said their "hearts were broken by the sudden and senseless loss", adding that Wilson had been a source of comfort across generations — recounting stories from his Army days, offering humour and practical help, and providing "a listening ear" to those around him.

"He should still be here with us and we've been given no explanation why he isn't," the statement continued. "We are devastated by the manner of his passing, made harder still by the lack of answers — it feels as raw today as the day it happened."

The family closed their tribute with: "While nothing will bring him back, we think of him every day. Forever remembered, sadly missed."

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)