Driver, 69, who hit Take That fan as she walked to concert with friends denies causing death
By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 21:13 BST, 13 April 2026 \| Updated: 02:24 BST, 14 April 2026
A driver who hit a Take That fan as she walked to a concert has denied causing her death - insisting she veered off the road after suffering an 'epileptic seizure'.
Fiona Hodge, 69, was behind the wheel of a Citroen C1 car with two passengers when the vehicle mounted the pavement near Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on June 2024.
A court heard it narrowly missed pedestrian Donna Crossman's two friends, but hit her - knocking her over the railings and sending her falling to the ground below.
Ms Crossman died as a result of her 'catastrophic injuries', jurors were told.
Hodge, from Tyne Street in St Werburghs, has pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity to a single charge of causing death by dangerous driving at Bristol Crown Court.
Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingham said he expected Hodge's defence would be she had left the carriageway due to experiencing an epileptic seizure.
The jury was told that after the crash, police interviewed Hodge at the scene where she said she 'can't account for what happened' and had 'lost her concentration'.
Mr Vaitilingham said: 'She was asked if she thought she had a medical condition and she replied that she didn't, she was asked if she thought she had experienced a medical episode and she replied "no", and she was asked if she lost consciousness and she replied "no".'
Donna Crossman (pictured) died as a result of her 'catastrophic injuries', jurors at Bristol Crown Court were told
Fiona Hodge is seen arriving at Bristol Crown court on Monday where she is on trial for allegedly causing death by careless driving
The court heard Hodge tested negative for drink and drugs in the aftermath of the crash.
Ms Crossman's two friends were aware of the red car suddenly mounting the pavement and it narrowly missing them but striking their friend, knocking her over the railing and onto the BMX pump track beneath the flyover, the court was told.
The trio had been walking in the Mendips during the day and were returning to Bristol.
Ms Crossman's friends are expected to state they were chatting in the car before the vehicle suddenly began drifting to the left and hit the pavement.
Mr Vaitilingham said the jury would hear the pair were concerned enough to slow down and keep their distance from the red car in front.
'The prosecution say that the most likely explanation was that Hodge was simply not driving with the level of care and attention that is expected, and that although it was not a prolonged piece of careless driving, it was enough to have devastating consequences,' Mr Vaitilingham said.
The trial continues.