Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Joe Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A female drink-driver who crashed into a car at a red light and killed a two-year-old girl has been sentenced to five years in prison.

The road accident took place in the district of Selcuklu in the southern Turkish province of Konya on 4th September.

Emel Gumus, 50, reportedly ploughed into the back of a car waiting at a red light.

The car’s occupants were Samet Kurt, 31, his wife Teslime Kurt, 28, and two-year-old Aybuke Kurt in a baby seat.

Samet and Teslime Kurt were discharged from hospital after treatment, however little Aybuke suffered a brain haemorrhage and remained in intensive care.

The young girl passed away on the evening of 15th September.

It was determined that Gumus, who has been arrested, was driving without a licence and under the influence of alcohol.

It was also discovered that Gumus had been involved in another road accident one week before and her driver’s license had been seized for six months.

The defendant, Aybuke Kurt’s family members and legal representatives attended the hearing at the Konya 9th High Criminal Court.

Gumus was sentenced to five years in prison for “causing the death of one person and injuring more than one person by negligence” and her license has been withdrawn for 2 years and 6 months.

Gumus told the court; “I drank alcohol the day before, but I was not under the influence of alcohol during the accident. As soon as I saw the cars stop, I also hit the brakes, but they didn’t work and the accident happened.”

Prosecutor Cihat Tanrikulu said the defendant has not apologised to the victim’s relatives and never stated that she regrets it.

Samet Kurt was disappointed by the lenient sentence and said they plan to appeal for a tougher prison term.

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