Drug driver caused death of 'beloved' grandfather in 'thoroughly avoidable' crash

A drug driver caused the death of a "beloved" great grandfather in a crash. Dale Hilton was four times over the drug drive limit when his car crashed into George Stevenson.

Mr Stevenson then had to wait hours for an ambulance, before he later died. A judge said the death of Mr Stevenson was "thoroughly avoidable", but added it could not be known if the three-hour wait for an ambulance also played a part in the tragedy.

Hilton was today jailed for four years for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of a controlled drug. The 42-year-old, of Heol Kenyon, Johnstown, Wrexham, was said to have struggled with the Covid-19 lockdown and ended up turning to cocaine.

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Mold Crown Court heard today that he rang Mr Stevenson's wife himself and brought her to the scene. The crash happened when the defendant's red Peugeot C2 car collided with George Ian Stevenson as he was walking along High Street in Johnstown at 7.30pm on March 2, 2022, reports North Wales Live.

The level of Benzolecgonine in his system was four times the legal limit. Mr Stevenson, a retired undertaker, lorry driver and mechanic, died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital that night. Today prosecutor John Philpotts read out a statement from Mr Stevenson's daughter Julie Davies.

She said he was a "beloved father, husband, grandfather and great grandfather". She added: "His death has left a huge void in the lives of his family - something we will never be able to get over."

She said she was particularly concerned for her 86-year-old mother who has now lost her husband. Ms Davies added they were "shocked and surprised he (Hilton) continued to offend in a similar way after this fatal incident".

The court was told he had been fined for drug driving and breaching a community order last year. Brendan O'Leary, defending, said: "This is an absolutely tragic case when no sentence of imprisonment will bring Mr Stevenson back."

He said the defendant had had a momentary lapse in concentration before the "side impact" with Mr Stevenson. After the collision he blocked the scene with his car, put his coat under Mr Stevenson's head and phoned Mrs Stevenson.

He then brought her to the scene, which Mr O'Leary accepted would be "scant consolation" to the family. He added that the defendant had had a challenging childhood leading to a diagnosis of "complex post traumatic stress disorder". He also has ADHD.

The court heard the father-of-three said he had taken to "self-medicating" with cocaine during the Covid-19 lockdown "to balance out his brain". But the judge His Honour Niclas Parry told Hilton he had a "poor attitude towards the rules of the road and safety of others", with a history of motoring convictions.

He had been four times over the legal limit for drugs at the time. He said: "It's clear you had the victim in your sights for a long time. It's inexplicable that you did not avoid him."

The judge added: "It's unpalatable to read your view that the death was the fault of everybody apart from yourself." It had been a "thoroughly avoidable tragedy" and the fact Hilton continued drug driving was "alarming," added the judge.

But the steps he took after the incident make him "almost indistinguishable" from the man in court today. The judge also praised neighbours who brought out blankets and hot water bottles and two off-duty paramedics who waited with the victim for hours.

It showed the value of the NHS although the three-hour long wait for an ambulance was "wholly, wholly unacceptable," he added. Jailing HIlton he also disqualified him from driving for five years.

He must pass an extended test before being able to drive legally again.