AN accountant from Bolton died instantly after a BMW span out of control and collided head-on with his Vauxhall Astra on a remote moorland road.

Yesterday BMW driver Rachel Smith was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention.

Geoffrey Rushton was killed on his way to work in July last year.

Blackburn Magistrates were told that social worker Mrs Smith will be haunted for the rest of her life by the fatal consequences of a simple misjudgement as she drove to work.

The court heard that Smith was still receiving counselling seven months after the accident which happened as she drove to work at Bolton Social Services.

Smith, 26, of Franklin Road, Witton, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention. She was fined £1,000 with £69 costs and had her licence endorsed with seven penalty points.

David Brindle, prosecuting, said it was raining when Smith was travelling along Belmont Road towards Bolton, driving her father's BMW at around 8.30am on July 31. Mr Rushton, 46, of Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, was travelling in the opposite direction to work in Blackburn.

He said that Smith was negotiating a sharp bend and, at the point of the bend, her car went badly out of control crashing into Mr Rushton's car.

"Mr Rushton was killed instantly as a result of his injuries and both vehicles were badly damaged," said Mr Brindle.

Mr Ross Olson, defending, said there was no suggestion that Smith was exceeding the 60mph speed limit. Her recollection was that she was doing between 45 and 50mph and as she approached the bend she began to slow down.

Mr Olson said: "Unfortunately she lost control and you have heard the consequences. My client has expressed her deepest remorse for the events that occurred that morning. The memory of this accident will be with her for the rest of her life.

"She is currently undergoing counselling in an attempt to put this matter behind her but it is in her memory and in her daily consciousness."

He said Smith accepted that the standard of her driving fell below the standard required.

Mr Olson added: "She appears in court as a result of a misjudgement of the road conditions and not because she was driving aggressively or at a manifestly excessive speed. The consequences will be in your mind when you pass sentence but so, also, should be her conduct."

Mr Olson produced confirmation from Smith's employers that she is an essential car user in her position as a field social worker. He urged them not to disqualify her from driving as this would cost her her job.