A ‘groggy’ student sobbed as she told a jury that she ‘didn’t see’ a dog walker who she killed on a pedestrian crossing.

Megan Jones, 22, crashed into Julia Pritchard as she crossed the road on a ‘well lit’ street using a blue metal walker.

The student had just flown back from a holiday to Florida the day before the crash and was driving her father to work, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Jones was distracted while driving and did not notice Miss Pritchard until she hit her windscreen, the court was told. 

CCTV footage showed the victim leaving her home wearing shorts to take her dog for an early morning walk.

Jones denied she was ‘groggy’ from travelling, saying that she slept on the nine hour flight before sleeping between 9pm and 4.55am at home.   

Prosecutor Josh Scouller said Miss Pritchard was hit on the ‘illuminated’ crossing in Bridgend, South Wales, in September 2023.

Megan Jones, 22, crashed into a pedestrian as she crossed the road on a ‘well lit’ street using a blue metal walker

Giving evidence, Jones claimed ‘shadows from the trees’ had obstructed her view as she approached the crossing.

But Mr Scouller said it was ‘completely irrelevant’ as they did not reach the crossing where Miss Pritchard was hit.

Jones was changing lanes after exiting a roundabout just seconds before she smashed into the victim, the court heard.

She said: ‘It happened almost immediately. There was like a couple of seconds.’

Jones got out of her car to discover Miss Pritchard lying on the floor before she dialled 999 and stayed with the victim, it was heard.

Jones said: ‘Her clothing was very dark. She was very small. At first I thought it was a small child.’

Miss Pritchard died from her injuries five days later in hospital after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Jones said: ‘I felt very upset and distressed that this lady had passed away.’

Jones claimed she did not see Miss Pritchard until she hit the windscreen of her Citroen car while driving her father to the train station.

She sobbed as she repeatedly told the jury: ‘I didn’t see her.

‘I was looking out of my windscreen. I was looking ahead of me. I didn’t see her.’

The court heard passenger Aled Jones had asked his daughter to drive him to the station.

He said: ‘She was bright, alert, excited. She was normal Megan.

‘I remember seeing two bright green lights for the pedestrian crossing on green. The next thing I saw was a flash of blue and the windscreen coming in. That was it.’

Mr Jones said the pair had been having ‘general chit chat’ before the car smashed into the victim.

He said: ‘We were talking about her trip to Florida. We were talking about racoons that she had seen.’

Mr Scouller said Mr Jones was ‘giving evidence to protect your daughter’ – but Mr Jones dismissed the suggestion.

Jones told police in interview that she was not distracted in any way – and data showed she had not been using her phone.

Jones leaves Cardiff Crown Court during her trial

Mr Scouller said: ‘The issue is whether or not Miss Jones’ driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver.

‘Miss Jones says that despite paying attention to the road she simply did not see Miss Pritchard.

‘The Crown says that this cannot be true – had she been paying attention as she should have been she would have seen Miss Pritchard.

‘It defies the facts and common sense to suggest that she could not have seen her until the moment of impact.’

A forensic collision investigator found damage on the driver’s side of the car due to impact with the victim.

Jones, of Sarn, Bridgend, pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

The trial, due to last three days, continues.