A 38-year-old van driver has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a road worker in Crawley, Sussex.
Shortly before 1 am on July 8, the defendant was driving a Citroen Relay van along the southbound carriageway of the M23, when he struck and killed a highway worker on a slip road that had been isolated with cones.
Emergency services were called, but the 65-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested the Citroen driver, who was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Dashcam footage on the Citroen clearly showed erratic driving prior to the incident.
Police officers observed the defendant exhibiting clear signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and glazed eyes. At one point, the man lost his balance and fell over. He gave a blood sample for testing about four hours after the accident, which indicated that he had 221mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – 141mg over the legal limit.
The van driver entered a guilty plea on August 6 at Hove Crown Court, and is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for September 28. A substantial custodial sentence is very likely.
If you are facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, solicitors at Auriga Advocates have the specialist knowledge and experience to support you. Our team is highly experienced and committed to giving a high level of support and advice throughout the legal process. Contact us now, and let’s talk through your options.