Man sentenced for causing death of 38-year-old passenger in a collision

A drink-driver whose passenger was killed when he crashed his car into a tree has been jailed for more than seven years.

Samuel Simpkins, 39, was driving a BMW X4 along Cliffe View, South Rauceby, on 3 January last year when he lost control of the vehicle.

It skidded into some trees alongside the small country lane, impacting the nearside of the car.

The impact of the collision killed his passenger, 38-year-old Gemma Whitehead, instantly as the passenger side took the impact of the tree. There were no other vehicles involved.

An investigation by our Serious and Forensic Collision Investigation Unit found Simpkins had lost control of the vehicle, which had no mechanical defects.  Simpkins had been arrested at the scene after failing both a roadside drugs test and a roadside breath test.  Subsequent tests established that he was over the prescribed limits for both drink and drugs having consumed alcohol and cocaine before the collision. 

The investigation established that there were no apparent reasons for Simpkins to lose control of the vehicle.  During his police interview, Simpkins did not respond to any of the questions asked. 

Following a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court today (Friday 21 February), the court heard that Simpkins did not possess a driving license or insurance for the vehicle.

Having  already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink, Simpkins was sentenced to seven years and four months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for seven years with a compulsory extended retest (which begins upon his release from custody).      

Gemma’s mother said in tribute to her: “My heart has been truly broken.  I will never forget her beautiful and gorgeous face, her ever giving smile, her gentle hands and her voice that was always soft to my ears. I have shed so many tears every single day and will for the rest of my life, no one can imagine the hurt and continual loss of losing a child no matter what age. 

“The trauma that Sam Simpkins has inflicted upon this family is immense; children, husband, sister, brother, parents, grandparents and all her lovely friends and extended family are in a permanent state of shock.  His life just ticks over, ours has been blown away.  Every day we will continue to love Gemma for the kind, caring and beautiful daughter that she was – we will love her forever.”  

Gemma Whitehead, passenger

Detective Sergeant Kate Johnston, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Simpkins drove a motor vehicle along a small country lane and lost control on a straight bit of road.  We may never fully know why this happened and the only conclusion we can draw is that the drink and drugs in Simpkins’s body are the contributory causes.  

“The dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or dugs cannot be overstated.  The impact of both legal and illegal substances on an individual’s abilities are clearly demonstrated in this case where control was lost on a straight section of road.  I can only reiterate that drink and drug driving wreck lives and on this occasion, Gemma has sadly lost her life as a result of Simpkins’s actions.”

Samuel Simpkins, 39