A driver who killed a man after going through a red light in Blackburn, has been jailed.
Police were alerted to the aftermath of a Citroen Dispatch grey van which had collided into a Ford Focus at speed.
This happened on Myerscough Smithy Road at around 5.32am on Friday, February 3, 2023.
Despite the best efforts of members of the public and the emergency services, the driver of the Ford Focus, Martyn Smith (57) from Burnley, died at the scene.
Crash data recovered from the vehicle shows that prior to the fatal collision, Fowler was driving at 77mph in a 50mph speed zone.
He then drove through a red light on the A59, Myerscough Smithy Road, at the same time Martyn went to turn right onto the A59 as his light turned to green. This was the point at which the fatal collision occurred.
Reece Fowler, now of no fixed address, appeared at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
He was jailed for five years and was disqualified from driving for seven years and six months. He will have to pass an extended retest.
Detective sergeant Joseph Ghigi said: “In the early morning of Friday, February 3, Fowler drove dangerously directly through a red light at almost 30 mph over the speed limit, colliding with a car and killing the driver.
“Whilst no sentence will ever be enough to make up for the loss of life, I welcome the fact that Fowler has been given a custodial sentence and been made accountable for his actions on that tragic morning.
“My hope is that this devastating case will act as an impactful reminder of the fatal consequences of dangerous driving, and the lifelong impact it can have on all people involved.”
