Man who got behind wheel after drug bender killed beloved grandad-of-24 in horror smash
14.07.2023 - 17:13
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A driver who had taken MDMA when he caused a fatal crash was today jailed. Martin Cunliffe was speeding when he killed a 'much-loved family man' in a crash in Cheshire.
He had been found guilty in April after a four-day trial of causing the death of 50-year-old Gerry Smith by driving without due care and attention. The smash was in the village of Warmingham, near Middlewich, on School Lane on August 12, 2020. Cunliffe was found with MDMA in his blood at the time - at a level of 39 times the legal limit, police said.
The 37-year-old, from Barnton, was also spotted speeding before the crash. Mr Smith, from Middlewich, was described as a man with a 'big heart' who leaves behind seven children and 24 grandchildren.
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Today at Chester Crown Court Cunliffe was jailed for five years and banned from driving for seven years.
On the day of the crash, officers attended the scene and found that a red Fiat 500 driven by Cunliffe had collided with a white Ford Connect van. The driver of the van, Mr Smith sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Cunliffe was also injured and taken to hospital.
An investigation was launched by officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit. During their enquiries, officers spoke to several witnesses who stated that Cunliffe had been travelling well above the 30mph limit, with one also stating that he had overtaken them at speed.
Officers also recovered CCTV footage from local properties and data from the Fiat that showed Cunliffe had travelled along School Lane at speeds of up to 54mph.The data also show that he was travelling at a speed of no