Natalie Mountford, 45, was thrown 30ft into the air and died at scene of the crash near Sturminster Newton, Dorset, on December 18, 2022.
How it Happened
Cellist Adrian Brendel, a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, lost control of his car on ice as he made his way home from a concert in Oxford in the early hours of the morning.
The 48-year-old, who has performed at the BBC Proms, swerved towards the verge to avoid two cars blocking the road ahead but instead collided with Ms Mountford.
The mother-of-three had just pulled over to help a young woman after her car had skidded into a hedge.
He Stepped on Brake, but Still…
Mr Brendel, the son of Alfred Brendel – one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century – said he had braked as soon as he saw the two cars but was unable to stop his Citroen Berlingo due to the icy conditions.
What Investigation Reveal
An inquest into Ms Mountford’s death heard that the police found no evidence of any wrongdoing on Mr Brendel’s part and her death was a tragic accident.
Mr Brendel told Ms Mountford’s family he was ‘personally devastated and traumatised’ by the incident and offered them his sincerest condolences.
But they allege Mr Brendel had been driving without due care and attention at the time of the crash and plan to pursue a civil case against him.
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Victim Impact Statement
In a statement, the family said: ‘Natalie had just under three minutes to live the final part of her life on arrival.
‘As normal, she spent 100 per cent of that time caring for others – her greatest trait would also be her downfall.
‘We don’t understand how every car travelling that night stopped in the accident vicinity but Mr Brendel’s was a further 60 metres on. Only speed can make this happen.’
About Brendel
Mr Brendel has performed extensively throughout the UK and abroad as a chamber musician and a soloist.
His performances include at the Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro Colon in Buenes Aires and as part of the BBC Proms. He is also a member of the award-winning Nash Ensemble.
It Was a Freezing Night
Mr Brendel had been driving to his £2.5m home in the village of East Orchard, Dorset, having performed at the Oxford Chamber Music Festival on a freezing night.
Minutes earlier a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Charley Mack skidded on ice on the B3091. It crashed into a hedge and rebounded into the carriageway.
