Man jailed for causing fatal crash in Chelmsford
The man killed one passenger and left another with life-changing injuries
Last updated 17th Oct 2024
A driver who killed one passenger and left another with life-changing injuries after a serious crash in Chelmsford, has been jailed.
David Taiwo lost control of his BMW 3 series car whilst leaving Chelmsford on the A138 dual carriage way.
Taiwo collided with an unattended construction vehicle at road works at the Boreham Interchange in the early hours of Saturday 31 July 2021.
Tragically, Simona Matukytnaite died as a result of her injuries whilst the second passenger sustained life-changing injuries.
David Taiwo had offered to drive the two women, in their 20s, home from a night out when the collision happened.
Following an investigation by detectives in the Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, the now 26-year-old of Halbutt Street, Dagenham was charged.
Taiwo had been considerably exceeding the driving speed limit when he caused the crash.
After the incident the driver refused to give a breath sample and blood sample.
At Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday 20 September this year he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was sentenced at the same court today (Thursday 17 October) to a total of 10 years and six months.
He was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and 3 months and will need to pass an extended driving test.
Simona Matukytnaite was just 24.
Her family paid tribute saying:
“This tragic loss has been made considerably more painful due to the driver not admitting liability nor showing any remorse to the loss of our daughter.
Simona was a happy, outgoing and kind person.
She would enter a room and light it up with her smile and voice.
She was my daughter and best friend.
The actions of the driver have abruptly ended my beautiful girl’s life and ended the dreams of her having a family and destroyed my future memories with her.
She was to me and her father an only child and to grandma only grandchild.
In one night, our lives were broken in thousand pieces.
Close friends and family have been trying to direct us to find purpose for life again, as losing child is an immeasurable loss.
She will always be loved and remembered by family.”
Detective Sergeant Alex Black said:
“Today my thoughts are with Simona and her family and friends.
It is because of this tragic, yet avoidable collision, that they have been left alone.”