Dangerous driver jailed over fatal crash

A woman in her 30s was killed during the collision in June

Author: Grace McGachy Published 20th Dec 2024

A driver who fled the scene after killing his passenger in a crash in Surrey has been jailed.

At 3am on Sunday, 9 June 2024, 37 year old Christopher Latham was driving at extreme speed when he collided with a lamppost and a brick wall in Caterham.

He had three passengers in the car at the time; one of whom, a woman in her 30s, died at the scene . A second woman in her 30s also suffered multiple fractures.

Following the collision, police received two automated calls, one from the vehicle emergency system and one from Latham’s phone. Through the call, Latham could be heard offering someone money to help him get away from the scene.

Latham fled the scene of the collision but police discovered he had travelled to Manchester where he was located and arrested.

An investigation revealed Latham was driving at a speed of at least 70mph in a 30mph zone

Detective Sergeant Ben Grilli said: “This is a tragic case of a completely avoidable death on our roads which has left a family without their loved one. I want to take this opportunity to emphasise that if you get behind the wheel of a car and drive dangerously, the consequences can be catastrophic.”

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