A driver who caused a fatal collision by stopping abruptly on a major road in Sittingbourne has been jailed for five years.
&w=1024&h=370&scale=both&mode=max)
Collette Gibson
Collette Gibson, 55, was travelling northwards on the A249 Maidstone Road towards the Key Street roundabout on Saturday 23 April 2022 when she brought her Vauxhall Zafira to a sudden halt without warning or justification.
The unexpected stop triggered a chain-reaction crash. A car travelling behind Gibson collided with her vehicle, and a motorcyclist riding behind them was then forced into the back of the second car. The rider, a man in his 50s, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation by detectives, witnesses confirmed there was no apparent reason for Gibson to slow down or stop. She was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Gibson, of Lime Close, South Ockendon, Essex, denied the charge but was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 25 March. Returning to the same court on Wednesday 20 May 2026, she was handed a five-year prison sentence, disqualified from driving for four and a half years, and ordered to pass an extended re-test before being allowed back on the road.
Detective Constable Sara Capozzi said:
‘Gibson’s actions resulted in a man’s death through no fault of his own. She has consistently denied the charge as well as refuting the testimony of numerous witnesses, making her victim’s family relive this tragic incident in court.
‘We are satisfied Gibson will now face the consequence of her actions and we hope this brings some closure to the man’s loved ones.’