Dangerous driver on cocaine jailed for killing two men in Hampshire crash

Wayne Wellington, of Sheepridge Road, Huddersfield, was driving a Daf lorry southbound on the A34, near Andover, when the collision happened on July 3, 2018.

The 41-year-old’s lorry collided with a van which in turn hit its owner, Kevin Ackrell, and Vipin Kumar, as the pair exchanged details after a minor collision.

Mr Kumar, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr Ackrell, 49, died in hospital three days later from his injuries.

When officers attended the scene, they found Wellington was over the legal limit for cocaine.

He was jailed for nine years and received a driving ban of 10 years, followed by an extended retest, at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, March 11.

The lorry driver ‘essentially slid from his bed to the driver’s seat’ after a night of drug taking with ‘devastating consequences,’ according to Det Sgt Tony Jenkins, part of the the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

He said: ‘Wellington's whole conduct was not only well below that you would expect of a professional driver, but of anyone using the road.

‘Having taken drugs the night before, he essentially slid from his bed to the driver's seat upon waking up and set about driving his lorry.’

“His actions have had devastating consequences for the families of his victims.

‘These were two men who had no prior connection but both died as a result of his thoughtless and selfish actions.’

‘Their deaths could have easily been avoided.’

Officers found that no attempt had been made to brake before the collision – and the lorry’s accelerator was at 100 per cent.

Det Sgt Jenkins added: ‘This must serve as a warning to all road users. Do not get behind the wheel while impaired, it is not worth the risk and your actions can and do have a lifelong impact on the families, friends and loved ones of those who die as a result.’