Driver jailed after taking cocaine day before fatal A7 crash
The High Court heard victim impact statements from the families were 'harrowing' to read...
Last updated 30th Oct 2025
A motorist who caused the death of a woman by driving dangerously after taking cocaine has been jailed for six years.
Christopher Lynn was behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger when it crashed into a Vauxhall Astra driven by Yvonne Nichol on the A7 in the Scottish Borders - causing it to swerve on to the opposite carriageway and collide with an oncoming car.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, near Ashkirk, after the alarm was raised around 3.45pm on August 15th, 2023.
Ms Nichol - aged 64 and from Hawick - was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
Her 65-year-old passenger, and a 71-year-old woman driving the Nissan Juke, also suffered serious injuries.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard Lynn, who sustained minor injuries but did not require to go to hospital, was driving at 81mph seconds before the impact with Ms Nichol's car and was in the "comedown" phase after taking the Class A drug.
The 32-year-old from Dalkeith, Midlothian, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this month.
As part of the charge he admitted driving "while impaired having consumed cocaine" and driving at "excessive speed".
Lord Clark sentenced him to six years behind bars and disqualified him from driving for nine years when the case called this morning (Thursday), with Lynn appearing by video-link from HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow.
The judge said the crash happened in a 60mph zone but Lynn should have been restricted to 50mph because he was driving a light goods vehicle.
He told him: "You had ingested cocaine and you were on the comedown from cocaine, which can cause a lack of concentration, distraction and fatigue.
"You were travelling at 81mph seconds before the crash with the white Astra driven by Yvonne Nichol."
He said victim impact statements from the families of Ms Nichol and other victims were "harrowing" to read.
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Lord Clark said: "There is no sentence I can impose that can in any way alleviate the devastating consequences of your actions for the individuals and the family members."
He told Lynn that if he had been found guilty at trial he would have jailed him for eight years but he reduced this to six due to his early guilty plea.
Advocate Victoria Dow, representing Lynn, said the father-of-one had previously led a "blameless and worthwhile life".
She told the court: "He is a man who deeply regrets his behaviour that led to this devastating accident.
"No-one is more acutely aware of the seriousness of the consequences than Mr Lynn himself. He is genuinely remorseful."
Police say Lynn's reckless actions had had "devastating consequences".
Inspector Dominic Doyle said: “Lynn made choices which left him unfit to be behind the wheel of a vehicle that day. His reckless actions had devastating consequences, taking the life of Yvonne Nichol and leaving others with serious injuries.
"This tragedy serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibility every driver has when they get behind the wheel. One person's actions can have irreversible consequences for many others.
"Our thoughts are with Yvonne's family and loved ones, and all those affected by this needless loss."
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