Driver killed man after failing to defrost windscreen

A woman who repeatedly drove over a man lying in a road after failing to defrost her car windscreen during a winter's morning has been jailed for six years.

Megan Murphy, 26, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 31-year-old Darryl Tomlinson by dangerous driving. He had collapsed on Pembroke Road, Wigan, in the hours before he was hit by the car on 9 January 2025.

Witnesses tried to alert Murphy as she drove towards Tomlinson, with one shouting "stop" and "go back" and another sounding a car horn.

Bolton Crown Court heard Murphy later called a friend and said: "I've ran him over but it's a smackhead."

Murphy, of Lord Street, Wigan, had got into her car at about 05:47 GMT on the icy morning and reversed from an alleyway, facing the wrong way down the one-way street, Greater Manchester Police said.

CCTV showed her windscreen and windows were visibly frozen, significantly obstructing her view of the road.

Murphy stopped inches from him after people shouted warnings, but could not see what they were indicating because of the poor visibility.

She then drove forward over Tomlinson, reversed back over him and drove forward over him again. He became trapped beneath the driver's side of the car.

A witness contacted North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), who alerted police. Officers used a witness's car jack to free Tomlinson and began CPR.

NWAS arrived shortly afterwards, but he was pronounced dead at about 06:21.

In a victim impact statement, Tomlinson's mother Michelle said she had felt "empty inside" since losing her son.

She said he was "a loving and caring young man".

"Darryl would do anything for anyone and from being able to walk he loved football," she said.

"I struggle to put into words how I feel about losing my son, and all I can say is that I really don't feel anything anymore since losing Darryl."

His father Paul said it was "a pain and emptiness like nothing you will ever experience".

Tomlinson's brother Lee added: "I can't and never will understand why this person responsible for my brother's death did not defrost her window and drove the wrong way down a one-way street with no vision."

He said learning of the phone call she made to her friend claiming he was "a smackhead" and not even phoning for an ambulance had "hurt me more".

CCTV evidence showed that in the two days prior to the collision, Murphy had also driven the wrong way down the same street.

Det Con Carl Boydell said the incident was "truly tragic and entirely avoidable".

"Even in cold weather, taking the time to properly clear windows and ensure full visibility is essential," he added.

Greater Manchester Police told the BBC that NWAS had received a call at about 05:05, regarding a man lying in the road.

The location was incorrectly recorded as Marsh Green. Both NWAS and GMP visited the area and could not find the man.

The force said it had referred the incident to its Professional Standards Department as "standard practice" and the department had found there was "no criteria" for further investigation.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.