A 69-year-old driver faces sentencing after a jury convicted her of causing death by careless driving in the fatal collision that killed a 53-year-old Take That fan en route to a concert.
The Tragic Incident
Fiona Hodge, from Bristol, struck Donna Crossman with her Citroen C1 on June 9, 2024, as Crossman walked across Brunel Way toward Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium. Crossman, from Wales, traveled with two friends when Hodge’s red car mounted the pavement, narrowly missing the companions before hitting Crossman and hurling her over a railing onto a BMX pump track below the flyover.
Crossman suffered catastrophic injuries and passed away around midnight after her family arrived in Bristol near 10:30 p.m. BST. Tests confirmed Hodge tested negative for alcohol and drugs following the crash.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
At Bristol Crown Court, Hodge denied responsibility, stating she had no recollection of the moments before the crash. Police interviewed her at the scene, where she admitted losing concentration but denied any medical condition, episode, or loss of consciousness.
After more than six hours of deliberation, the jury found Hodge guilty on Monday. Judge Peter Blair KC described the case as “an enormously sad and tragic case for everyone involved.” Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingham KC outlined the events, noting Hodge’s prior “weird” episodes linked to undiagnosed epilepsy, though she had never experienced a seizure before the incident. Neurologists later diagnosed her with epilepsy.
During her testimony, Hodge recalled “an incredible jolt” followed by a rapid sense of consequences, finding herself on the curb facing three women. She later told friends in the car, “I think I may have killed someone.”
Defense counsel Ian Bridge argued the collision likely stemmed from Hodge’s undiagnosed epilepsy.
Victim’s Legacy
Donna Crossman, a more than two-decade RAF veteran, drew tributes from her father, Steve Price. He called her “perfect” and “adventurous,” adding, “She was wonderful, so caring, so loving… I know everybody says that about their kids, but she really was. She had a good life, she put a lot in, but she had so much more to give. Her circle of friends is massive, and it’s affecting everyone.”
