A DRUG driver who crashed into a woman and caused her life-changing injuries has been jailed.
Richard Dean Caines, 47 and of West Cliff Road, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving after hitting grandmother Helen Archer in a crash in Westbourne on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
He also admitted to driving a motor vehicle whilst unfit to do so by drugs, driving a motor vehicle without a licence and using a motor vehicle without insurance.
A hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, January 20, heard how Caines was driving a Nissan Micra in Poole Road when traffic in front of him began to slow.
He attempted to illegally overtake a bus, lorry and two cars by moving into the opposing carriageway. Witnesses reported to police their “astonishment” at the manoeuvre.
Mrs Archer, aged in her 50s, stepped out from a crossing refuge in the middle of the road near West Cliff Baptist Church as no traffic was approaching her from the correct direction.
Driving in the wrong lane, Caines struck Mrs Archer who was “thrown into the air” before landing on the car bonnet and onto the ground, the court heard.
One witness estimated Caines was driving at between 20 to 25mph when he hit Mrs Archer.
The victim remained unresponsive for six minutes until an ambulance rushed her to Poole Hospital where she was placed in a medically induced coma.
Caines remained at the scene and was found by police sitting on a nearby bench.
Mitigating barrister Nick Robinson said Caines immediately exited the vehicle and went to the aid of Mrs Archer.
He was later quoted as telling police officers: “I drove the car, it was me, is she okay? That’s all I care about. I need her to know I didn’t mean to do it.
“I’m guilty, it’s my fault.”
Officers reported Caines as having slurred speech and that he drifted in and out of sleep while in custody. He later tested positive for cocaine and heroin.
Mrs Archer suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to her skull and face, bleeding around the brain and a partially collapsed lung.
In a victim impact statement read on her behalf by prosecutor Roderick Blain, Mrs Archer “worries about not being able to look after her grandchildren again” and feels “lucky to be alive”.
Her injuries have left her housebound, and she is cared for full time by her husband.
Judge William Mousley KC, while recognising Caines’ remorse, said: “Your offending has had a severe impact on Mrs Archer. It is entirely predictable that she will suffer lifelong effects.”
Caines was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison. He was disqualified from driving for six years and five months.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article