A man who killed another driver in a crash in Carlisle after he drove at 80mph during a medical episode has been jailed.
David Devoy, 54, has epilepsy. He was urged not to drive by police 27 days before the crash on the A7 at Stanwix Bank which claimed the life of 50-year-old Neil Errington.
On April 5 2022, Devoy was confronted by angry pedestrians in Carlisle’s West Tower Street after his vehicle mounted a kerb and came to a rest perilously close to people at a bus stop.
Devoy was heard revving his immobilised car and later told a PC he believed he had suffered an absent seizure at the wheel.
That PC spoke to Devoy about voluntarily surrendering his driving licence because of the episode. “The officer warned him not to drive again,” prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court.
But instead, in the aftermath of that incident, Devoy lied to the DVLA by saying his licence was lost. He then failed to declare his epilepsy when trying to hire a car on April 10.
On Monday May 2, Devoy collected a new BMW 320 from a Carlisle dealership and headed south on to Scotland Road.
He initially collided with and then rammed a Fiat Punto driven by 19-year-old woman who saw the BMW approaching from behind and thought: “I am just going to have to take this.”
After multiple impacts, Devoy drove off ludicrously quickly and attracted the attention of several concerned motorists as he headed towards central Carlisle on the wrong side of the road.
He was travelling at between 76 and 81mph — in a 30mph zone — moments before he ploughed into the back of a southbound Mercedes stationary at traffic lights on Stanwix Bank during another medical episode.
Driver Mr Errington, of the Carlisle area, was airlifted to a Newcastle hospital where, despite treatment, he died 10 days later after life support was withdrawn.
His partner and passenger, Sandra Mallinson, was also injured and likened the shocking collision to a bomb going off.
Devoy told a PC: “I think I must have had a funny do.” He later admitted causing death by dangerous driving, and two counts of fraud by false representation.
As he was sentenced this afternoon, the court heard an impact statement provided by Miss Mallinson, who described her life since the tragedy as a living hell.
She said: “I struggle to comprehend how the actions of one man has caused me so much pain, stress, worry and loss. To say my life has been irrevocably changed is an understatement. My life as it was before May 2 2022 has been utterly destroyed.
“Due to the injuries I sustained I’ve lost my livelihood. I spend my days now in a constant state of physical and emotional pain. I have lost who I was. But the most painful thing I have lost which I can never get back, is Neil.
“Neil and I were together for 14 years and we were in the process of renovating our home to spend the autumn of our lives here, enjoying what we had created together. Our once happy home now stands empty
with our dreams in tatters, and we will never get to enjoy the life we had been dreaming of together.”
A statement from the Punto driver outlined the stress, financial and physical impact on her.
Father-of-two Devoy, of Knightswood, Sunderland, wept in the dock as facts of his offending were outlined.
Susan Hirst, mitigating, provided personal background information and said: “I would like to start by expressing to Miss Mallinson and Mr Errington’s family how deeply sorry he is for what he has done. He knows that there is nothing that can be said to make up for their loss. He also knows he is entirely responsible for their grief.”
Imposing a prison sentence of six years eight months, Judge Michael Fanning told Devoy: “It was you that killed him and you have to live with that. Nothing can bring him back.”
“You shouldn’t have been on the road at all and you knew that because of your medical history,” added the judge. “Look what you’ve done. Look what harm you’ve caused. Look what a life you’ve taken.”
Devoy must serve a 10-year driving ban when released from custody.
