An 84-year-old woman has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision involving a quad bike on a rural road in Northumberland last year.

Muriel Turnbull, who resides at Elderberry Cottages in Otterburn, was driving a Vauxhall Corsa on the A68 at Colwell in August 2025 when the incident occurred. According to reports, her vehicle and a red farming quad bike, traveling south, were involved in a collision that also included a northbound heavy goods vehicle (HGV). It is believed Turnbull’s car struck the quad bike, which then collided with the lorry.

The quad bike driver, John Browell, a man in his 70s from the Hexham area, sustained serious injuries and died in hospital 10 days after the crash.

Turnbull appeared before South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court but was excused from attending in person after medical representatives from Freeman Hospital in Newcastle reported she was unfit due to ill health. During the hearing, prosecutor Chike Anieto indicated that the charge is an indictable-only offence, necessitating the case be transferred to the Crown Court.

No pleas were entered at the magistrates’ hearing, and the case was referred to Newcastle Crown Court. Turnbull was granted unconditional bail and is due to appear at the Crown Court on October 20.