October 28th 2024.
Joshua Eldred, a 31-year-old power station labourer from Northwich, caused a fatal crash on a Cheshire motorway earlier this year while rushing to work the morning after a night of heavy drinking and cocaine use with friends. His actions resulted in the death of father-of-one Timothy Burgess and life-changing injuries for Timothy's partner, Wendy Wall. As a result, Eldred has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The court heard that Eldred was living in his car while on bail for a previous hit-and-run incident where he was 15 times over the drug-driving limit. On the morning of July 18, Eldred woke up after only five-and-a-half hours of sleep and immediately started driving when he realized he was late for work. He had been due in at 8am, but instead, he spoke to his employer at 9am, claiming he was stuck in traffic. However, analysis of his phone showed that he had just woken up.
Eldred's reckless driving was evident from the start, as he was seen narrowly avoiding a collision with a parked car and then jumping forward at temporary traffic lights before stopping again. He was also seen weaving towards the center line and almost colliding with a vehicle while attempting to overtake a white van. As the road opened up to a 50mph zone, Eldred's speed increased to 65-70mph, resulting in a head-on collision with Wendy's car.
Tragically, Timothy died at the scene of the crash, and Wendy suffered multiple fractures and a stroke as a result of her injuries. Tests showed that Eldred was over the legal limit for blood alcohol, cocaine, and BZE, a compound used to test recent cocaine usage. His defense lawyer, Adam Antoszkiw, argued that Eldred's mobile phone was fixed to his dashboard and not in his hands during the calls he made while driving.
During his sentencing, Judge Steven Everett expressed his disbelief at Eldred's actions, stating that he had thrown away his decent job, family background, and intelligence for a night of heavy drinking and drug use. Eldred's decision to drive in an impaired state and use his phone while driving showed a complete disregard for the safety of others on the road. As a result, he was not only sentenced to prison but also banned from driving for ten years after his release.
Eldred's actions have caused immeasurable pain and suffering for all those involved, and the judge noted that this was not the first time he had seen a drug addict cause such destruction. He urged Eldred to understand the consequences of his actions and expressed his hope that he would never get behind the wheel of a car again. Eldred, through his lawyer, expressed his profound remorse for his actions and the grief he has caused. He has no recollection of the offense and has vowed to never drive again.
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