Diss woman jailed for causing fatal head-on A143 crash

A statement was read from a motorist, David Alexander, who had been driving behind Clarke and had noticed her driving erratically and described her vehicle as almost leaving the road and “weaving” from side to side.

He thought the driver ahead of him must have been drunk, on the telephone or asleep and had considered calling the police.

The Mercedes then overtook an HGV and crashed into the car travelling in the opposite direction, without breaking or making any attempt to return to the correct side of the road, the court heard.

James Leonard, defence counsel, said his client had been suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Clarke had experienced a series of miscarriages and had shown “poor judgement” by seeking medication for her personal trauma that was not obtained through clinical channels, he said.

Mr Leonard said that on the day of the crash Clarke had the drug Pregabilin in her system and had taken a Xanax tablet that afternoon.