John Bishop given lift by police after car crash

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Darran Fellowes, 48, was helping son Jack, 18, who had been stranded after his car broke down on an A-road on 25 December 2019. The father-of-two was then hit by Sarah Jayne Roper, 27, on the A465 near Aberdulais in South Wales. His son’s car had stopped working after the fuel gauge of the restored VW Beetle registered a half-full tank but then lost power.

Jack’s brother Thomas, 23, and his girlfriend arrived with Darran to Jack’s rescue.

Dad Darran’s car pulled up and stopped just behind the broken-down Beetle, with the hazard warning lights on in the December evening. He had also turned on a warning beacon to other passing motorists, alerting them to the car’s presence near the flow of traffic.

Prosecutor Carina Hughes told Swansea Crown Court that other drivers who had given statements concerning the incident had agreed that the hazard lights and beacon served as warnings to move into the second lane of the road.

Ms Roper, unlike other motorists who veered into the other lane to avoid the two cars, admitted she fell asleep at the wheel for an unknown amount of time and had drank a glass of wine with her meal that lunchtime.

Ms Roper’s car then hit the door of Jack’s, smashing the door forward and breaking the window. In doing so, Jack’s father Darran was sent flying “15 to 20ft” in the air.

He died at the scene despite the best efforts of emergency responders, having sustained injuries such as a fractured skull, spine and ribs.

Ms Roper initially drove away from the scene, before calling her boyfriend and then returning.

Ms Hughes said: “She stated she fell asleep at the wheel. She said she had nodded off and did not know for how long.

“She said initially she did not realise she had hit someone but later admitted that was the case.”

She appeared “shocked and upset” on footage from police body cameras, before admitting death by dangerous driving.

Darran’s widow, Donna, told the court: “I know I will never be able to fix this for my sons.

“I will have to continue to watch the pain and hurt at losing their dad and it breaks my heart on a daily basis.

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I live with anger that my happy, stable family unit has been ripped apart.

When I see the A465 sign I feel physically sick.”

Donna added: “‘My identity, my other half, my belonging, my family unit are all gone.”

Ms Roper’s lawyer, Quentin Hunt, said Ms Roper offered “an unreserved apology” for a “tragic momentary lapse.”

He added: “It has had a devastating impact on her and probably will for the rest of her life – although that is in no way meant to go behind the obvious void and pain and suffering of Mr Fellowes’ family.”

Mr Hunt continued: “There was no trace of alcohol in respect to her system. This was a tragic momentary lapse in safety from someone who is usually a conscientious driver.”

Ms Roper was handed a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and 300 hours of community service.

She was also disqualified from driving for three years, and given a nine-month curfew.

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