A devastating event on the A1077 in Scunthorpe brought about a prison sentence of 12 years and nine months for 36-year-old Ben Bailey, found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. Bailey, who had no known domicile, was at the wheel of a Mercedes sports car, travelling at speeds beyond 90mph, when he had a wreck involving a lamppost in February 2023. His 22-year-old passenger lost their life in the accident, despite a bystander’s intervention and the swift arrival of emergency services.
The ruling occurred at Grimsby Crown Court, where Bailey also received an 18-year plus one-month driving disqualification. The court was informed that Bailey had a history of inhaling nitrous oxide whilst driving and he kept using his mobile during the drive, exacerbating his reckless behaviour.
There has been praise from the Humberside Police for a lorry driver who put their own safety aside to tackle a fire that posed a threat to the vehicle after the collision. The family of the deceased expressed their appreciation to the public and emergency services, stating that while the sentence could not replace their loved one, they were satisfied with the judgement.
The event underlines the persistent problems associated with perilous driving under the influence on Lincolnshire’s roads and the call for unwavering surveillance and law enforcement.
Credit for the original report goes to www.bbc.com, from which this story by The Lincoln Post was crafted.
