Drugged up HGV driver who killed two is jailed for nine years

  An HGV driver  has been jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal collision at Bullington Cross which killed two men. Wayne Wellington, 41, of Sheepridge Road in Huddersfield, was driving a Daf lorry southbound on the A34 near Bullington Cross when the collision happened on July 3 2018. Winchester Crown Court heard Vipin Kumar, 43, from Reading and Kevin Ackrell, 49, from Trowbirdge in Wiltshire, had been stopped on the hard shoulder at the time following a minor collision. As they exchanged details Wellington collided with Mr Ackrell’s van which in turn hit both of the men. Mr Kumar was pronounced dead on scene, and Mr Ackrell died in hospital three days later from his injuries. When officers attended they performed a drugs wipe and found he was over the legal limit for cocaine. As part of our subsequent investigations officers found that no attempt had been made to brake before the collision and the accelerator was at 100 per cent. He was today jailed for nine years and received a driving ban of ten years and will have to take an extended retest. DS Tony Jenkins, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Wellington’s whole conduct was not only well below that you would expect of a professional driver, but of anyone using the road. “Having taken drugs the night before, he essentially slid from his bed to the driver’s seat upon waking up and set about driving his lorry. “His actions have had devastating consequences for the families of his victims. “These were two men who had no prior connection but both died as a result of his thoughtless and selfish actions. “Their deaths could have easily been avoided. “This must serve as a warning to all road users. Do not get behind the wheel while impaired, it is not worth the risk and your actions can and do have a lifelong impact on the families, friends and loved ones of those who die as a result.”