On Friday, March 20, 35-year-old James O’Donnell was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and drink driving.
On March 5, 2025, at around 12.25 pm, O’Donnell had been driving along Tarbock Road, Huyton, when he collided with cyclist Keith Hornby, 63, who was thrown from his bicycle onto the grass verge. Hornby later died from his injuries.
At the time of the accident, O’Donnell was travelling at 63 mph in a 30-mph zone. A roadside breath test showed that O’Donnell’s alcohol level was almost three times over the legal limit. Following the crash, he turned his car around to view the victim, but then sped off down a side-road. He later abandoned the car, purchased vodka from an off-licence, and staggered towards his home in Cypress Avenue.
He called his girlfriend’s mother, who owned the vehicle he was driving, and informed her of the accident. She then called the police, who found O’Donnell after he was spotted on doorbell footage. He was arrested in the street, attempting to persuade police that he had become drunk only after the accident, and was sober while driving. However, he later pleaded guilty to all charges.
If you are being investigated for causing death by dangerous driving, solicitors at Auriga Advocates can offer you advice and support based on many years of experience and specialist knowledge of motoring law. Contact us now and we can help you decide on the best course of action as your case goes forward.