Liam Mansfield could have faced a more serious charge over an earlier offence, police admit.
Gaps in video footage led to what a judge called an "astonishing" charging decision over a killer driver's earlier offence, police said.
Mansfield then misjudged overtaking a tractor on the A141 between Chatteris and Warboys, and his BMW crashed head-on with a Volkswagen Polo being driven by Mrs Rivers, who died at the scene.Her passenger and wife Debbie Rivers was seriously injured and "only survived by the extensive and what some may call miraculous medical treatment she received," the judge said.
The judge called the earlier offence, in which Mansfield reached speeds of 70 to 80mph in a built-up area, an "appalling piece of driving". "This decision was made as a result of evidential difficulties relating to the continuity of evidence because the pursuing police vehicle lost sight of the defendant's car for a short period of time, after which it was found abandoned," he said.
"We offer our condolences to the family of Stephanie Rivers and will continue to work with the CPS to provide them any information that they need."Liam Mansfield admitted causing Stephanie Rivers' death by dangerous driving
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