A woman was sentenced to 30 days in prison, suspended for three years, for involuntary manslaughter in South Iceland District Court yesterday. A girl died after being hit by a car the woman was driving in August 2011.

The woman is also to pay the girl’s mother ISK 2.3 million (USD 18,000, EUR 14,000) in damages, ruv.is reports.

The accident occurred in the driveway to the farm Mið-Sel in Rangárvallasýsla county where the woman, who is Swedish, was staying with her husband, the girl’s British father, and others.

The girl and a boy of the same age stepped out of the woman’s car and intended to run along the driveway. The girl was beside the car when the woman started driving and fell under it. She died of head trauma caused by the accident.

The verdict states that the consequences of the accident have had serious implications for the woman’s mental health.

However, it cannot be overlooked that she is guilty of reckless behavior which resulted in the tragic accident, the verdict reasoned.

The circumstances and the girl’s young age should have made the woman be particularly cautious when driving the car.

ESA