Callum Brankin was driving a blue Mini Cooper and the A121 Mount Hill at Essex at about 11:00 a.m. on October 12, 2019.
During a slight turn left, Essex Police said, he lost control of the car.
When he tried to regain control over the car, he hit a green Nissan Micra into the opposite lane.
The car was driven by Barbara Bragg, 87 years old.
The elderly woman was rushed into the hospital, where she died the next night.
Essex Police reported that officers who were on the scene found evidence of recent cannabis usage in the footwell and door pockets of Brankin’s car.
Tests also showed that at the time of the collision, Brankin was above the drug driving limit.
Investigators also noticed that the car’s front and rear brakes had been worn down and that a recent MOT advised them to replace them.
Replacement brake parts were found in his car, suggesting that Brankin knew the brakes were severely worn.
The 23-year-old admitted to causing Bragg’s death by careless driving last month at the Ipswich Crown Court.
Brankin was jailed at the same court on Friday for two years and one month.
For three years, Brankin was also barred from driving and will have to take an extended re-test.
The judge stated that Brankin, 23, had failed to maintain his brakes, which was an aggravating factor during the conviction.
Sergeant Steve Holmes from the Investigative Unit for Serious Collisions called Brankin’s actions “wholly irresponsible.”
Holms reported that Brankin’s car had a defective brakes and the man drove while over drug-driving limit.
Holmes also stated that he caused the death of Bragg, and for the rest of Brankin’s life, he needs to “live with that on his conscience.”
Holms saw this tragic incident as a highlight of the consequences of drug driving. According to him, drugs affect your driving ability, your judgment, and reaction speed.
The police sergeant also added that drugs can remain in your system for days after you’ve had them last, and you can still be positive for them even if you don’t feel impaired.
He warned the drivers that they could lose their license if they’re caught drug driving, that could mean that they’re losing your job. “You might not be able to pay your bills,, so you could lose your home.”
Finally, he stated that consequences can be fatal, and drug drivers might kill themselves or someone else.
Original article: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/drug-driver-cannabis-jailed-killing-elderly-woman-road-collision-093630362.html?guccounter=1
