Man jailed for killing two cyclists while driving a stolen car
A man has been jailed for killing two cyclists after he collided with them in a stolen car on a road in Liverpool.
Colin Smith, 23, of Lavender Gardens in Warrington, was in a stolen white Ford Fiesta when the incident happened on Dunlop Road in Speke on 28 February 2019 at 6.50pm.
Smith was driving home to a house in Halewood. It was raining and the road surface was wet. He was seen to be driving over the speed limit on the road which was 40mph.
He crashed into a car that was pulling out from Hale Road into Dunlop Road. Smith’s car then crashed into the two cyclists and a third car.
The cyclists, Claire Killey, 45, a mother of two and Anthony Cope, 39, a father of two, died from their injuries. Two of the people in the other cars also suffered injuries.
The car that Smith had been driving was stolen and had false registration plates. He had earlier falsely insured the vehicle based on the false plates.
Smith and his passenger fled the scene but he came back later on foot and was arrested. He tested positive for cannabis.
Smith of Lavender Gardens, Warrington, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today (24 June 2021) following a trial after pleading not guilty to all charges. He was jailed for 11 years for:
- Two counts of causing death by dangerous driving
- One count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving
- Four counts of fraud
- One count of receiving stolen goods
- One count of section 5a drug driving
Smith also received a ten and a half year driving ban.
District Crown Prosecutor Victoria Colvin of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: “This is a tragic case whereby two innocent people were killed and another person was seriously injured.
"Smith was driving a stolen car which was displaying false number plates, whilst under the influence of drugs. He fled the scene after the collision and very sadly the victims passed away as a result of their injuries.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and we hope that the guilty verdict and prison sentence imposed today helps them in some way as they try to move forward.”