Drug-driver jailed for causing head-on crash that killed pensioner
The collision happened near Chichester in 2019
A dangerous driver who caused a fatal head-on collision near Chichester while over the limit for drugs has been jailed for six years.
Max Anderson lost control of his BMW after overtaking a bus in Kennel Road near Goodwood in September 2019.
His car crashed into one being driven by 68-year-old Donald Sutherland from Bognor Regis, who was taken to hospital and died from his injuries five days later.
Anderson, who is 30 and of Priors Acre in Boxgrove, near Chichester, tested positive for the chemical breakdown of cocaine in his system.
He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Portsmouth Crown Court on January 24th.
Along with his jail sentence, Anderson has been banned from driving for nine years.
The court was told how Anderson’s vehicle had gone past a bus in the single lane traffic, but then lost control.
He skidded to the wrong side of the road and struck a road sign and embankment, before causing the head-on collision.
Records showed he had been advised not to drive because of his previous drug taking.
At interview, Anderson claimed he was a patient driver and was not showing off.
He tested positive for 79 microgrammes (uhg) of benzoylecgonine (a chemical breakdown of cocaine) per litre of blood in his body. The legal limit is 50uhg of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood.
Anderson could not account for why the drugs were in his body.
Under the terms of his sentence, he is required to apply for and to take an extended retest before he would be allowed to drive.
Detective Constable Dave Symonds from Sussex Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:
"Anderson lost control and caused a fatal collision on our roads. This is a tragic case for all parties involved that has been linked to the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
"It is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of drug driving and the impact it has on so many lives and reinforces why police seek to stamp out drink and drug driving so robustly.
"I would like to thank the victim's family for their patience and understanding whilst this investigation was carried out.”