Man jailed for killing woman in Chester crash

A man who skipped a red light and crashed into a car in Chester, killing an innocent woman, has been jailed.

Paul Wright was driving his BMW X5 along Liverpool Road, Chester, on 5th November 2023. He travelling to see his partner who was in hospital having given birth to his second child.

As he approached the Countess of Chester hospital, he was travelling at 60mph in a 40mph zone. His speed slowed slightly to 30mph, when he skipped a red light and ploughed into the side of a Vauxhall Grandland X, driven by Jane Hickson.

57-year-old Jane, who was taking her 21-year-old daughter to see her elderly grandparents, sustained fatal injuries, and passed away at the scene.

During their investigation officers found that Wright had already contravened two other red lights in the minutes prior to the collision.

One on these was on Whitby Lane, where he nearly narrowly avoided a collision. When a witness showed their concern and discontent at the incident, Wright stuck his middle finger up and drove off at speed.

Wright performed poorly on a field impairment test and tested positive for cannabis on a drugs wipe. A subsequent blood test revealed he was under the legal limit

Sergeant Simon Degg from Cheshire Police said: “This collision occurred due to the extremely poor and dangerous driving of Paul Wright over a prolonged period of time. His driving can only be described as atrocious and pointless.

“His actions have devastated the lives of all those involved, including his own family. However, the family and friends of Jane have suffered the most severe and horrific loss.

The 31 year old appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday where he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

He was also banned from driving for 14 years. Once he has completed his 14-year driving ban he will also be required to undertake an extended driving test.