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London

Woman found guilty of causing death after having epileptic seizure while driving

She had been told not to drive by a medical professional a week before the accident.

driving fit Sonya Pannu Met Police Met Police

A WOMAN HAS been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after having an epileptic seizure at the wheel.

This happened in the town of West Drayton in outer west London in April 2014 when 32-year-old Sonya Pannu lost control of the car she was travelling in.

Appearing before Hove Crown Court today she was found guilty of causing the death of 30-year-old Irene Valverde-Martinez and also of causing serious injury to another 30-year-old man.

Speaking about the incident today, Sergeant Jane Mallet from the Met Police’s Road Death Investigation Unit, said:

“Pannu suffered an epileptic fit at the wheel having been told by a neurological consultant not to drive just one week before the collision, setting in motion a chain of events that had tragic consequences.

It is only right she has been forced to face up to her actions in court and I am pleased the jury have convicted her today.

What happened? 

On the day of the incident, Panny was driving her Land Rover Discovery after finishing work in the neighbouring area of Hounslow where she works as a director of a children’s nursery.

While approaching a roundabout she began to accelerate and crossed over onto the wrong side of the road.

This saw her collide into the Vauxhall Astra that Valverde-Martinez and her husband were travelling in, with her sitting in the passenger seat.

A friend of the couple was also sitting in the back of the car.

After slamming into the Vauxhall Astra, Pannu’s Land Rover continued across the road and hit into a Volkswagen Golf before being diverted up the driveway of a house and hitting a stationary Ford Transit, pushing it into closed garage doors.

Mother of five Pannu is set to be sentenced tomorrow.

Comments have been closed on this article as sentencing is pending. 

Read: Police seek ‘most wanted fugitive’ in connection with brutal stabbing of man on night out

Also: Woman convicted of murdering father who had MS