Jonathan Eaves, aged 25, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to causing the death of Saskia Bet by dangerous driving in January.
Following the sentencing, a member of the public has referred the case to the Attorney General under a scheme that allows the law officer to appeal a sentence to the Court of Appeal if it is deemed too lenient.
During the sentencing, Judge Simon Hickey remarked on Saskia’s character, describing her as a very special person who was loved by her family and missed by many. He emphasized that she was an extraordinary young woman whose life was tragically cut short.
During the court proceedings at York Crown Court, personal statements from Saskia Bet’s family were heard, providing insight into her character and the profound impact of her loss on her loved ones.
Saskia, aged 27, was driving to her workplace at Hob Moor Oaks Academy before dawn on January 26, 2021, when Jonathan Eaves, driving a bus, suddenly swerved into the path of her car on the A19 south of Easingwold.
According to Soheil Khan, the prosecutor, Saskia had no opportunity to avoid the collision and tragically succumbed to her injuries as a result of the crash.
Eaves, a resident of Preston, had failed to notice a cyclist ahead of him until he was dangerously close. In an attempt to evade the cyclist, he abruptly veered into the opposite lane, colliding with Saskia’s car. The cyclist, who was wearing reflective clothing and had a flashing red light on his bike, had been visible for at least 30 seconds before the incident occurred.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Eaves had been previously involved in a series of minor collisions while driving his bus. Additionally, he had been captured on camera engaging in reckless behavior behind the wheel. This included driving with both hands off the wheel while wearing headphones, waving a bottle around, and opening a can of drink or a box of sweets. Furthermore, he was observed using one hand to operate the touchscreen of his smartwatch, all while driving.
Judge Simon Hickey emphasized the significance of these actions, suggesting that they likely contributed to Eaves’ failure to maintain proper vigilance while driving. He pointed out that Eaves must have been distracted by something, although the exact nature of the distraction remained unclear.
Jonathan Eaves, residing on Moss Nook Drive in Preston, was employed as a bus driver for Reliant Motor Services at the time of the incident. Following the crash on January 26, 2021, he was dismissed from his position by the company. In addition to the prison sentence, Eaves was handed a driving ban lasting six years and four months.
During the court proceedings, defense solicitor advocate Graham Parkin argued that Eaves had committed a series of minor errors leading up to the crash, such as failing to stop in a layby to clean his windscreen from spray thrown up by a passing lorry. These cumulative errors contributed to his dangerous driving behavior. Parkin also noted that there may have been a period when the cyclist’s rear light was not visible.Parkin emphasized that Eaves had not intended to cause harm to anyone on the morning of the incident.