Nursing student jailed for killing teenage girl after ‘falling asleep’ at wheel

The 43-year-old was working three jobs when she knocked down and killed Victoria Carson with her car in north London last year.

Victoria Carson, 13, was knocked down and killed by a car in north London in June 2020 (Met Police/PA)

A nursing student who was working three full-time jobs and had “fallen asleep” at the wheel when she killed a 13-year-old girl has been jailed.

Gardene De Carvalho, 43, of East Barnet, was found guilty on Friday of causing Victoria Carson’s death by dangerous driving at Wood Green Crown Court.

She received a three-and-a-half-year sentence, but with a 16-month discount due to her “previous good character”, the Metropolitan Police said on Saturday.

She was also disqualified from driving for four years.

Gardene De Carvalho, 43, has been jailed for causing the death of a 13-year-old girl by dangerous driving (Met Police/PA)

Ms De Carvalho struck the teenager, who was walking along the pavement in East Barnet, north London with her Fiat 500 on June 29 2020.

Police said that nursing student Ms De Carvalho had worked around 440 hours – or 15 hours every day – in the month leading up to the crash.

She was in the second year of a nursing degree at university and had a vocational placement at a London hospital.

On top of that, she was working two other paid full-time jobs, one working nights at a care home and another as a private carer during the day.

She regularly drove her car to her various jobs, despite not having the correct insurance cover, according to police.

During her trial, Ms De Carvalho said she had “blacked out” just before the collision and had “no memory” until shortly afterwards.

The prosecution case was that she had fallen asleep at the wheel due to her excessive working hours.

Detective Sergeant Matt Smith said: “De Carvalho seemed to feel entitled to drive around London, regardless of her fitness to be behind the wheel.

“Her refusal to take responsibility for using the roads safely led to the death of a young girl, and my thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Victoria’s family.

“This tragic case should serve as a reminder to all drivers. It is your legal responsibility to ensure that you are entirely fit to drive and not putting yourself and others in danger. Failing to accept that responsibility can destroy lives and lead to your imprisonment.”

Paying tribute to their “beautiful daughter” after her death, the girl’s parents Gary and Roxana Carson said: “Victoria was loved dearly by so many of her friends with whom she shared many interests, especially caring for cats and playing tennis.

“We will deeply miss Victoria’s smile, her laugh and her energy, but our beautiful, generous daughter will forever remain in our hearts.”