A drink-driver has been sentenced to jail for causing a fatal crash in Keynsham last year. Thomas Hardyman, 38, was driving alone in his Range Rover on the B3116 Burnett Hill near Keynsham when the accident occurred around 3:30pm on Sunday, January 21.
Hardyman veered into the opposite lane, resulting in a head-on collision with a Peugeot van. Dashcam footage showed his car clipping the kerb and drifting into the opposite lane multiple times prior to the fatal crash.
The van’s driver, Julian Cole, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Hardyman, found to be almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit, was taken to Southmead Hospital for treatment.
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Following a guilty plea to causing death by careless driving, Hardyman, a resident of Compton Martin, received an eight-year prison sentence and an additional eight-year driving ban. He must also pass an extended re-test to regain his licence.
In a statement, Mr Cole’s family remembered him as “one of life’s good guys” and expressed gratitude for the support received during the investigation.
Dai Nicholas, the investigating officer, emphasized the devastating impact of Hardyman’s decision to drive under the influence and urged motorists to take road safety seriously in light of the tragic outcome.