Man jailed for eight years over triple fatal crash

A 26-year-old man from near Spalding was jailed for over eight years after pleading guilty to causing the death of two siblings and the sister’s fiancé in Peterborough.

As previously reported, police were called to a collision involving a Ford Ranger and a Renault Megane on the westbound carriageway of the Frank Perkins Parkway just after midnight on Sunday, April 14.

The driver of the black Ford Ranger Wildtrak – Tommy Whitmore from Pinchbeck near Spalding – pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday, May 20.

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.

Marko and his fiancée Jana were parents to two young children who were left orphaned by the crash. Tomas was Jana’s younger brother.

Three people who died in a collision in Peterborough have been named by police. Photo: Cambridgeshire Police

Whitmore was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. In addition to the jail sentence the judge also banned him from driving for nine years and two months, taking effect from when he leaves prison.

He drove at speed the wrong way along the carriageway, hitting the Renault car and killing the driver and two passengers.

Whitmore was drunk, under the influence of cannabis and was seen driving erratically by other drivers shortly before the collision. Police said he had also been awake for more than 20 hours.

The force of the head-on impact caused both cars to be thrown into the air.

Whitmore took a roadside breath test and blew 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath: more than double the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

He told police officers in interview he had been out for a meal and to a bar, where he had been drinking, and said although he knew he would be over the legal limit he felt safe to drive. He expressed remorse for causing the collision.

PC Kevin Drury said: “There is no sentence that can bring back the parents of the two young children who have been orphaned by Whitmore’s actions or bring comfort to the families of the three young victims but Whitmore is now behind bars and being punished.

“Driving while drunk and under the influence of drugs is extremely reckless, incredibly dangerous and, as this case demonstrates, can have fatal consequences.

“Anyone considering drinking or taking drugs and getting behind the wheel should pay heed to this case, which has devastated three families and led to a lengthy prison sentence for a young man.”