Driver jailed after fatal A16 crash near Spalding

A driver has been jailed after a head-on crash on the A16 near Spalding in which a 28-year-old woman died. Lincoln Crown Court heard that Mantas Kudrevicius, 32, of Victoria Street, Quorn, Leicestershire, had been awake for about 18 hours before the collision on 30 August 2024. The court heard his vehicle was on the wrong side of the road for about 30 seconds before it struck a car driven by Shinead Francis. Kudrevicius was sentenced on Friday to four years and six months in prison. During sentencing, Judge Catarina Sjolin-Knight said the only explanation was that he had fallen asleep while driving at night on what was described in court as a featureless stretch of road. The court also heard that a witness saw the vehicle suddenly accelerate shortly before the collision. Police found traces of cannabis in a urine sample provided by Kudrevicius, the court was told. In police interview, he admitted smoking a joint the previous day. The court heard he had expressed remorse. His mitigation was presented by Peter Gotch. Details of the sentence were reported from Lincoln Crown Court proceedings. In a statement issued after the case, Detective Sergeant Kate Johnston of Lincolnshire Police said drivers should make sure they are properly rested before getting behind the wheel. She said allowing a vehicle to move into the path of oncoming traffic, particularly at night, was dangerous and could have devastating consequences. The A16 is a key route through this part of Lincolnshire, linking Spalding with surrounding villages and other parts of the county. The crash happened on that stretch of road during a night-time journey. The court was told that Ms Francis died as a result of the collision. Family members and her partner provided victim impact statements during the hearing, describing the effect of her death on those close to her. Those statements were heard as part of the sentencing process, alongside evidence about the circumstances of the crash and the defendant's account. Reporting restrictions did not prevent the publication of the main details of the case, including the defendant's identity, the date of the collision and the sentence imposed. The case centred on the prosecution account that fatigue was the cause of the crash. Judge Sjolin-Knight said, according to the hearing, that falling asleep at the wheel was the only explanation for what happened. The sentence means Kudrevicius will serve a custodial term following the fatal collision near Spalding. This story was adapted from original reporting by BBC News.