Delivery driver killed girl, 7, overtaking on dip in the road colliding head-on with car

SUB-CONTRACTOR ADMITTED CAUSING DEATH OF CHILD AND IS JAILED FOR SIX YEARS

- BY RICHARD VAMPLEW

Elsie Gascoigne

A DELIVERY driver who killed a seven-year-old girl and seriously injured her father when he performed a dangerous overtake in a hidden dip has been jailed for six years.

Van driver Veselin Dudenski, 39, admitted causing the death of Elsie Gascoigne by dangerous driving when he collided head-on with the car being driven by her father, Jamie.

Dudenski, of Cherry Avenue, Branston, Lincolnshire, also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Mr Gascoigne on January 3 this year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Dudenski was working as a subcontracted delivery driver when he attempted the overtake on the B1202 at Metheringham Heath.

Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said Elsie was a rear passenger in a blue Kia car and travelling home from a trip shopping and visiting McDonald's when the vehicle was struck head-on by Dudenski's white Citroen Relay van at around 5.45pm.

Miss Holmes told the court Dudenski had already overtaken a Ford Ranger and then a short time later moved onto the wrong side of the road to pass another unknown vehicle in the hidden dip.