Drug-driver jailed after couple killed in crash

Thelma Huse wearing a pink sparkly dress and a pink flower in her hair. She is smiling and sitting beside Tony Mist, who is wearing a dark blue suit and looking at the camera

Image source, FAMILY HANDOUT

Article information

Author, Leigh Boobyer & Bea Swallow
Role, BBC News, Somerset
7 hours ago

A drug-driver who drove into oncoming traffic and killed two people in a car crash has been jailed.

Jessica Higgs, 20, of Imber Road in Warminster, Somerset, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving at Taunton Crown Court on Friday.

Tony Mist and Thelma Huse, both 69, were killed on the A303 in West Camel, Somerset, on May 2023. Their families said it has been the "worst year of their lives".

Higgs was sentenced to three years and five months in prison, and was banned from driving for six years and eight months.

Higgs had been driving a Mercedes Citan van when she crashed into the couple's Fiat 500.

Mr Mist, who had been driving, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Ms Huse died the following day.

They were from and lived in Mytchett, Surrey, and were on their way to Charmouth, Dorset, for a glamping trip to celebrate Mr Mist's 70th birthday two days later.

A witness told police they saw the van drift from the eastbound carriageway across the central white line, before colliding with the couple's car.

Higgs was taken to hospital where blood tests showed a quantity of benzoylecgonine - which occurs after cocaine use- that exceeded the legal limit.

A stretch of dual carriageway with hedgerows and trees on both sides and cars travelling in both directions

Image source, Google

In a victim impact statement, Ms Huse’s family said they and Mr Mist's children have been "through the worst year of their lives".

"There are no winners in this case," they said.

"The sentence handed out today will not bring Thelma or Tony back but we hope that Jessica Higgs will spend her time in custody reflecting on the pain she has caused our families, and also on her stupidity of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after taking an illegal drug.

“We also hope that others will learn from this – as no journey is so important that it should take place when your brain is compromised by the effect of drugs."

'Painful and devastating'

Officer Tony Hall told the court that Higgs said in a police interview that she had "no recollection of the moments" prior to the crash.

"It is every motorist’s responsibility to make sure they are in fit enough to drive before getting behind the wheel, and it is clear Higgs was not.

“This is another painful and devastating reminder that driving while under the influence of drugs is a deadly decision that puts yourself and innocent road users at serious risk.”

He added the family are still being supported by a liaison officer more than a year after the "awful tragedy," he said.

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