Man jailed for causing best friend’s death in horror crash after speeding at 90mph
An uninsured driver who caused the death of his best friend after crashing while speeding has been jailed. Jake Hardy, who only held a provisional driving licence, was behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo which his friend Jason Akrill had bought just hours earlier when the vehicle when the collision occurred on a bend…
An uninsured driver who caused the death of his best friend after crashing while speeding has been jailed.
Jake Hardy, who only held a provisional driving licence, was behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo which his friend Jason Akrill had bought just hours earlier when the vehicle when the collision occurred on a bend on the A631 near Gainsborough.
Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said an eyewitness estimated Hardy was driving at 90mph in the moments leading up to the incident with Mr Akrill in the front passenger seat.
Mr Kemp said: “As the Mondeo approached the bend the witness saw the brake lights come on.
“He saw the car twitch to the right and then to the left. The vehicle began to spin. It came to a halt on its side resting against a tree.”
Both Mr Akrill and Hardy had to be cut free from the vehicle.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Mr Akrill but he passed away.
Hardy himself suffered serious injuries including fractures to his pelvis, collarbone, ribs and thumb. He subsequently spent five months in a wheelchair and is awaiting an operation as a result of a dislocated knee he suffered.
Afterwards Hardy gave a negative roadside breath test for alcohol but refused to allow blood samples to be taken in hospital. He was unable to recall anything about the incident.
The court was told that an accident investigator put the speed of the Mondeo at between 67 and 87mph at the time of the collision.
A check revealed the Mondeo had damage to the front offside suspension which may have occurred before the collision.
Mr Kemp said that Mr Akrill bought the car earlier the same day in Grimsby and drove it back to Gainsborough. He was not insured and did not have a full driving licence.
Hardy, 27, formerly of Wellington Street, Gainsborough who is currently a serving prisoner, admitted charge of causing death by careless driving on January 9, 2014 while under the influence of drink and drugs in that he failed to provide a specimen when required to do so.
He also admitted associated charges of causing death by careless driving whilst driving otherwise in accordance with his licence and whilst uninsured.
Hardy was jailed for 32 months and banned from driving for three years and four months.
His prison sentence is to run consecutively with a sentence of four years and three months he received last month at Nottingham Crown Court for a post office robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.
Caroline Bradley, for Hardy, told the court: “He describes Mr Akrill as the best friend he ever had and one he won’t be able to replace.
“He misses Mr Akrill enormously. He is devastated that he is in part responsible for his death.”
Miss Bradley said Hardy has since suffered nightmares and flashbacks as a result of what happened.
She said Hardy’s girlfriend is standing by him and when released he will have the opportunity to put his offending behind him.
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
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