Westbury man jailed following fatal crash in Dilton Marsh
It's after a 63-year-old man died last year.
Last updated 19th Nov 2024
A man from Westbury has been jailed following a fatal car crash in Dilton Marsh.
It's after a 63-year-old man died last year.
Louis Tavener was travelling at 78 miles per hour on a 50 limit road back in April 2023 - when he lost control of his car and crashed head on into Warwick Bayman.
The retired pilot from Frome, sadly died at the scene on the A3098 outside Chalcot Park Farm on April 11th last year.
Three passengers inside Tavener's BMW were also injured.
The 23-year-old, from Fell Road in Westbury, pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury, and has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.
Mr Bayman's sister Clare, speaking on behalf of her family, said: "The way in which my brother lost his life was slightly ironic.
"He was a commercial pilot, an HGV Class 1 driver and a superbly skilled rally driver who had nothing to prove on the road. Yet, he was killed by a driver who was going too fast for his level of driving experience.
"Warwick's family, fiancée and friends will always hold him in their memories as being one of the really good guys and he will be greatly missed."
Sergeant Rich Hatch, from Wiltshire's Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: "Tavener's actions directly changed the lives of numerous people forever.
"Mr Bayman was only a few weeks away from marrying his partner when Tavener took both his and his fiancée’s future away. Our thoughts remain with Mr Bayman's family and friends on this day.
"Wiltshire Police and the CPS have spent a year building the case against Tavener. His sentence today should serve as a warning to others who make conscious decisions to drive too fast in wet conditions.
"The actions of one driver can change lives forever and we urge people to consider the risks before doing so."