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Blackburn man jailed for causing man’s death in Darwen
Kristian Rawcliffe, 26, was driving his friend’s Renault Clio when he hit his victim Sion Chaisty on Pole Lane in Darwen at around 6.00pm on June 26, 2021.
A jury at Preston Crown Court was told that minutes before the fatal crash, Rawcliffe drove the Renault out of a nearby pub car park and drove aggressively away up Pole Lane, with one witness describing him as “showboating”.
Rawcliffe reached speeds of 48mph as he sped up the hill before turning around and driving back towards the pub, approaching roadworks and signage that indicated pedestrians may be in the road.
He reached speeds of no more than 58mph on his way back to the pub, almost twice the speed limit of 30mph.
Mr Chaisty, 44, ran from his garden and into the road as the speeding car approached and was thrown high into the air as it hit him, landing on the pavement next to the car park.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics and a doctor from the North West Ambulance Service, but sadly died in hospital the next day.
CCTV footage gathered during the investigation was played to the court, along with evidence provided by the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit.
It was heard that if Rawcliffe was travelling at the speed limit, it is likely the crash would not have happened.
Rawcliffe, of Amberwood Drive, Blackburn, was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after the jury deemed that his driving was not dangerous. He was instead convicted of causing death by careless driving, to which he had already pled guilty.
Judge Robert Altham, Honorary Recorder of Preston, said: “This was on the very cusp of dangerous driving. The predominant and overwhelming cause was the speed of the car the defendant was driving.”
Rawcliffe was sentenced to 12 months in prison and banned from driving for two-and-a-half years. He then must take an extended re-test.
Mr Chaisty’s family and work colleagues described him as a highly-regarded illustrator who work for high-profile clients such as Lotus, Bentley, Ford, and MacLaren.
His sister, Nicole, spoke of how heartbroken she was at the loss of her kind, considerate, and thoughtful brother and the devastating effect it has had on family and friends.
Mr Chaisty’s father described him as not just a son, but a best friend. He spoke of how he was not a materialistic man and he did not spend money on everyday items because he was saving to retire and 50 and travel.
He added: “He will never get to see the world. My oldest son arrived in this world to great excitement. He left in great sadness.”
PC David Todhunter, from the road policing unit, said: “This has been a tough and emotional trial for Sion Chaisty’s family and no sentence will ever reflect the heartbreak caused at the loss of their loved one. Mr Chaisty’s family have been very thankful for the help and assistance provided to them by Family Liaison Officer PC Jenna Millward.
“I would like to say thanks to those who tried to assist Mr Chaisty at the scene, the witnesses who helped with our investigation and also those who provided CCTV footage.
“I would like to point out that this is a tragic example of the consequences of driving too fast. The speed in which Mr Rawcliffe drove on that day led to the death of a well-loved innocent man. Although the conviction will not bring Mr Chaisty back, I hope it can help towards giving his family some closure.
“This is another example of how speed is a factor in many serious and fatal collisions, showing just how speeding can have tragic consequences. I urge people to take notice of the speed limit and to the conditions.”
