Speeding driver jailed for killing woman in Sussex crash
Video footage of the moments before the collision have been released by police
The family of a woman killed in a crash on the A21 in East Sussex says that words 'do not justify the pain we feel', as the man responsible is jailed.
Myles Woollett will spend six years behind bars for the crash which claimed the life of 23-year-old Claudia-Rose Moor in Mountfield on April 25th, 2020.
The 22-year-old was seen driving recklessly at speeds of almost 100mph before attempting to overtake a vehicle.
He then lost control and collided with Claudia-Rose's stationary vehicle, which was parked in a layby.
She suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, and sadly died from her injuries two days later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on April 27.
Woolett, of Butchers Lane in Mereworth, near Maidstone, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injuries by dangerous driving to a passenger in his own vehicle at Lewes Crown Court on Monday (February 21st).
He was disqualified from driving for seven years and was told he would need to take an extended retest before he would be allowed to obtain his licence.
Following the case, Claudia-Rose’s family said:
"Words do not justify the pain we feel, the impact of grief has been catastrophic on us as a family.
“We have been robbed of our gorgeous girl and we are all burdened by the constant numbness of grief. It is impossible that our lives can ever be the same again.”
The family said Claudia-Rose, from St Leonards, was a team leader at the Co-operative and had previously studied art and drama at the William Parker Sixth Form in Hastings.
Her mother Nicola Moor, 47, said:
“Claudia’s charismatic personality made her such a great friend to everyone, she was incredibly funny and always brought laughter and noise, she never saw wrong in others and was always the first to offer aid to others less fortunate than herself.
“Claudia was full of compassion and generosity, her heart brimming full of love for her family and her so many friends.
“As Claudia’s mother, I am so incredibly proud of her morals and what she stood for, so full of kindness and support of others, she was incredibly beautiful both inside and out, a strong and fiercely independent young woman who would give her love to others so freely.
“It has been the greatest honour to be mummy to Claudia, I will continue to miss my brilliant best friend every moment of every day for ever more.”
Lewes Crown Court heard that less than an hour before the fatal crash, staff at a Waitrose store in Paddock Wood refused him entry because they believed Woollett had consumed alcohol or drugs.
Video footage taken from his cousin’s mobile phone from inside the car showed Woollett’s dangerous driving at excess speed.
Witnesses saw him attempting dangerous manoeuvres as he approached the A21 at Mountfield near Robertsbridge, including near misses with other vehicles.
In the moments before the crash, he reached speeds of up to 98mph and then attempted to overtake a Nissan Almera, but lost control as he tried to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming Honda Jazz.
It caused him to veer across the road, colliding with Claudia-Rose’s Ford Ka which was stationary in a layby.
Woollett then left the scene by climbing over a fence and running across fields, leaving Claudia-Rose and his passenger trapped with serious injuries in their vehicles.
He was arrested the next day at the address of a relative 20 miles away in Yalding, Kent.
Detective Inspector Sue Neilson from Sussex Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:
“The shocking video footage shows Woollett driving erratically on the road, hitting grass verges and narrowly avoiding collisions with other motorists.
“That should have been warning enough that he was not safe behind the wheel of his vehicle, but tragically he continued on his journey and went on to cause the fatal collision.
"It is clear he was not driving with reasonable care for himself or for other road users, reaching high speeds and driving dangerously.
“This case demonstrates the devastating consequences of a young motorist driving at speed.
“The combination of excess speed and inconsiderate driving are two of the main factors for why people are killed and seriously injured on our roads.
“We welcome the sentence passed by the judge as a warning to other motorists, and to take a dangerous driver off our roads.”