Spalding driver charged over triple fatal crash

A 26-year-old man from the Spalding area has been charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving after a crash which killed three young people.

As previously reported, police were called to a collision involving a Ford Ranger and a Renault Megane at the slip road to Stanground on the westbound carriageway just after midnight on Sunday, April 14.

All three occupants in the Megane died at the scene. Cambridgeshire Police named them as sister and brother Jana Kockova, 21, and Tomas Kocko, 19, both of Hinchcliffe in Peterborough. Jana’s fiancé Marko Makula, 22, of Reeves Way in Peterborough also suffered fatal injuries.

The driver of the Ford Ranger, who has now been named as Tommy Whitmore of Stonegate, Cowbit, was previously arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drink and/or drugs.

He was de-arrested and remained in a stable condition in hospital until he was well enough to be discharged. Cambridgeshire Police said they then questioned him in custody and he was charged before being sent straight to court.

He appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates Court on Monday, April 22. He was released on bail to appear at Peterborough Crown Court on May 20.

Family tribute

The family of Tomas, Jana and Marko have shared a tribute in Slovakian which Cambridgeshire Police translated as the following:

Touch of a dying day

Mourning is suddenly spilling through my soul,

however I have no clue how it got there,

perhaps only knowledge poured it there,

that you have left, that dying day has touched you.

So I am slowly losing you from my things, the room,

your energy, the way we have known you to be like,

and I would like to let you know just for short time

that I loved you, that I still like you.

So you move away, but my love flies with you

up there in the sky where it shines like a star,

so you can still peek with your night eye

into people’s souls who meant so much to you.