REECE MCKINVEN'S TRAGIC CRIME IN STREET: GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S DEATH LEADS TO 13-MONTH JAIL SENTENCE
In a devastating incident that has left the community of Street in Somerset deeply shaken, Reece McKinven, aged 31, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after causing the death of an 83-year-old woman, Beryl Howard.The tragic event unfolded on the afternoon of March 16, 2023, when Ms.
Howard was fatally struck by McKinven's van during a seemingly routine parking maneuver on Green Lane Avenue.
According to reports, Ms.
Howard was walking behind McKinven's Transit van as he attempted to reverse into a parking space.
The time was approximately 17:20 GMT when the incident occurred.
Witnesses described the scene as sudden and brutal, with Ms.
Howard suffering injuries deemed 'unsurvivable' by medical professionals.
Her family, devastated by her loss, expressed their grief and heartbreak, with her daughter, Sharon Perry, stating that they would 'never get over what happened.' She added that they are haunted by the memories of 'the pain and terror she must have felt' during her final moments.
Reece McKinven, who was under the influence of cannabis at the time, admitted to causing Ms.
Howard's death through careless driving.
During the court proceedings at Taunton Crown Court, he explained that he did not see Ms.
Howard behind his vehicle and was unaware she was underneath as he attempted to reverse.
McKinven also revealed that he had tried to reverse four times without realizing the presence of the elderly woman.
Members of the public who witnessed the incident rushed to comfort Ms.
Howard as she lay severely injured on the ground.
When police officers arrested McKinven at his residence on Pearmain Road in Street, they discovered 0.5 grams of cannabis on him and detected traces of the drug in his system.
Despite the presence of cannabis, the level was below the legal limit for prosecution, but the court acknowledged that McKinven had a history of offenses and demonstrated a cavalier attitude towards driving.
Judge Paul Cook, presiding over the case, acknowledged that McKinven 'genuinely' failed to realize Ms.
Howard was behind his vehicle.
However, he emphasized that the van's wing mirrors had an enhanced blind spot, making her presence visible if proper caution had been exercised.
The judge also highlighted McKinven's prior criminal record, which contributed to his decision to sentence him to 13 months in prison and impose a driving ban of two and a half years.
Ms.
Howard's son, Ray Howard, expressed his family's profound grief, describing her death as 'sudden and brutal' and stating that it has left their family 'shattered.' He paid tribute to her as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who brought joy and love to everyone around her.
Mr.
Howard also criticized McKinven for driving without a license and insurance, and after consuming illegal drugs, which he described as factors that only deepen their heartbreak and anger over what they called an entirely preventable tragedy.
