Chesterfield man who crashed Mercedes after eight pints – killing passenger – is jailed
A Chesterfield man crashed his Mercedes after drinking eight pints and killed a 32-year-old passenger alongside him, a court heard.
Forrest Burgin, 28, was captured on CCTV drinking lager at a bar with his girlfriend and the victim, prior to the crash on June 22 last year.
At just after 8.40pm Burgin lost control of his white Mercedes with the two passengers inside, flipping the car after colliding with a barrier.
Lincoln Crown Court heard how the crash happened just minutes after the trio had left the bar and they had travelled only one-and-a-half miles. Front seat passenger John Wilson, 32, also known as Ben, died at the scene of the collision on the A35 near Horncastle, Lincs.
Forensic evidence shows Burgin’s alcohol level at the time of the collision was just under twice the legal limit.
Based on witness evidence, the physical evidence found at the scene and in the experience of the forensic collision investigator PC Barlow the Mercedes would have been travelling substantially in excess of the speed limit when it first left the carriageway.
Detective Sergeant Emma Ward, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “The unavoidable death of Ben has left a family without a much-loved son, brother and grandson and our thoughts are with them today. I send my deepest condolences to the family. The effects alcohol has is well documented and it’s almost unbelievable that someone would get into a car and drive having drunk so much.”
Today (Friday) Burgin, of Eyre Chapel Rise, Newbold, was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving.
He was also handed an eight-year driving ban with an extended retest.