Drink-driver on wrong side of Lincolnshire road smashed into car and killed man

A driver estimated to be twice the legal alcohol limit [1] has been sentenced after causing death by dangerous driving.[2] Kane Clears was driving at approximately 90mph on the A6121 on Friday, July 21, 2023, when he was involved in a three-vehicle collision shortly after 7.15pm. Clears had been going around a bend and was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into a Ford Focus, driven by 59-year-old Ian Gooden, who had been travelling towards Bourne [3]. Mr Gooden died at the scene.

Having collided with the Focus, Clears' car, a Nissan Qashqai, then struck a BMW and the two people inside with injured. Clears failed a roadside breath test and investigations showed that before the collision, he had been driving well in excess of the temporary 40mph speed limit. He was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving and during his police interview, he made no comment to all questions asked.

Clears, of Water Lane, Bourne, subsequently pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The 30-year-old was sentenced to to seven years and eight months imprisonment on Friday, February 28. He was also banned from driving for a total of ten years and one month and must take an extended retest.

Detective Sergeant James Perring, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "The selfish actions of Clears have cost Mr Gooden his life as well as impacting a number of other individuals. "His driving was clearly dangerous and he was unfit to be driving and he must take full responsibility for his actions that evening. As well as his driving and condition, a subsequent examination of Clears' vehicle identified that one of the tyres was badly worn with the cords exposed.

"Whilst this isn't believed to have contributed to the events that evening, it demonstrates his utter disregard for other road users as he failed to maintain his vehicle in a road worthy condition."

References

^ twice the legal alcohol limit (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
^ causing death by dangerous driving. (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
^ Bourne (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)