Suspended Sentence for Careless Driving Causing Fatal Collision
A 28-year-old man from Pembrokeshire has been handed a suspended jail term after being found responsible for the deaths of a couple in a careless driving incident.
Alexander MacCallum was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on two counts of death by careless driving, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The tragic collision occurred in June 2024 on the A477 between Llanddowror and Red Roses in Carmarthenshire, resulting in the deaths of Katie Worrell and Adam Muskett.
The couple’s Ford Fiesta collided with a Jaguar XKR driven by MacCallum, who had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of death by careless driving.
The speed limit at the collision site was 60mph. On the day of the accident, weather conditions were adverse, featuring heavy rain, wet roads, spray, and cold temperatures.
Prosecutor Craig Jones described MacCallum’s loss of control as "momentary" and stated that although it could not be confirmed that MacCallum exceeded the speed limit, his speed was "clearly in excess of what was appropriate" for the conditions.
Jones also confirmed there was "no suggestion" that Adam Muskett’s driving contributed to the crash.
Police officers at the scene discovered the Jaguar XKR with damage to both front and rear across the eastbound carriageway. The Ford Fiesta was found on its side beyond the westbound barrier and was heavily damaged.
Expressions of Remorse and Responsibility
MacCallum’s defense lawyer, Martyn Hynes, stated that his client had expressed remorse and fully accepted responsibility for the incident, acknowledging that his accountability "came nowhere near anything heard from the family."
Hynes also noted that there was evidence of "four other crashes" in the same area, suggesting the location may have been hazardous.
Victims and Impact Statements
Adam Muskett, aged 27, died at the scene while driving the Ford Fiesta. His partner, Katie Worrell, 25, was airlifted to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Two other passengers in the Ford Fiesta, aged 27 and 33, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized.
Adam’s mother, Helen Muskett, delivered a victim impact statement in court, visibly emotional as she fought back tears.
"It feels like having my insides ripped out and what is left is extremely fragile," she said. "I have heaviness inside me. I struggle to think about the future without Adam."
"He was incredibly loving" and had "a love that was pure and flawless."
Helen described the couple as heading off on holiday to celebrate Katie’s birthday and emphasized how much they were loved by many.
At the conclusion of her statement, Helen embraced her daughter Hannah, who then provided her own statement.
Hannah had been living in Canada at the time of the crash but returned home following her brother’s death. She revealed that her fear of driving led her to stop driving altogether, take sick leave, and leave her teaching job in 2025.
"Life is unrecognisable. Adam was everything to me. He was my favourite person in the entire world," Hannah stated.
A statement from Katie’s parents, Karen Lanceley and Mark Worrell, was read out in court, expressing their grief.
"A beautiful woman disappeared and will only ever return in our memories. We all love her and miss her so much, our lives will never be the same."
Katie’s brother, Ryan Worrell, added,
"She made me feel so loved, her presence brought a smile to my face."
Judge’s Remarks and Sentencing
Judge Huw Rees acknowledged that MacCallum had not exceeded the speed limit but emphasized that his driving was inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions.
"It may well [be] that this was an accident black spot which the highway authority need or needed to look at, but again you put your foot down when your vision was limited in horrendous driving conditions," Judge Rees said.
The judge also considered MacCallum’s "general excellent character," his guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and clean driving record prior to the incident.
Judge Rees expressed belief in MacCallum’s genuine remorse.
In addition to the suspended sentence, MacCallum was ordered to complete 200 days of unpaid work, disqualified from driving for 18 months, and required to pay a victim surcharge.
