A BMW driver who killed a woman when he fell asleep at the wheel after being awake for 18 hours was today (Friday) jailed for four and half years.
Mantas Kudrevicius (32) drove on the wrong side of the road for around 30 seconds and collided head-on with a Renault Twingo being driven by Shinead Francis (28).
Lincoln Crown Court heard Shinead’s mother and stepfather rushed to the scene on the A16 at Cowbit after being alerted to the collision by her watch but she could not be saved.
A urine test taken from Kudrevicius seven hours after the crash showed a metabolite of cannabis present in his system, and in interview he admitted smoking a joint the previous day.
Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said Shinead was employed as a Class 1 HGV driver in Spalding and was travelling home to Peterborough when the collision occurred at around 11.30pm on August 30, 2024.
Another motorist on the A16 said he could not understand what the driver of the BMW 325 was doing and described how the vehicle suddenly accelerated just before the collision.
Miss Laws told the court Kudrevicius rang his mother from the scene and said he thought he might have fallen asleep.
Kudrevicius gave the same explanation to his partner, Miss Laws said, but during his police interview denied falling asleep.
The court heard Kudrevicius had left his home in Quorn at around 6am on the day of the collision and driven to work in Rotherham.
Kudrevicius said he arrived home at around 3pm and later drove in to Leicester to get a haircut.
He then drove his partner and their cat to her parents’ home in Spalding as they were going away.
“He was deprived of adequate sleep or rest,” Miss Laws argued.
“He must have been aware he was tired as people do not just fall to sleep.”
Kudrevicius told police he could not remember anything after the last roundabout on the A16 until he saw oncoming headlights.
Miss Laws suggested the cannabis metabolite found in the defendant’s system was a possible cause of drowsiness but conceded the prosecution could not be sure.
A small amount of alcohol was also present in his system.
Victim impact statements were read out in court from members of Shinead’s family.
Miss Laws told the court: “She was a greatly loved and adored daughter, granddaughter, girlfriend, sister, aunt and friend.”
Shinead’s mother described how she attended the scene of the collision but was not allowed to comfort her only daughter.
She said her daughter was an aunt to 23 nieces and nephews and told the court Shinead was “her little miracle” and “a precious gem.”
“I loved her first, always and forever,” she added.
Shinead’s stepfather described how there would always now be an empty spot at the family table and in their hearts.
In his statement Shinead’s boyfriend said she inspired him every day.
“I will forever hold Shinead as one of the biggest blessings in my life,” he said.
The court heard Shinead also loved penguins and longed to be a mother.
Kudrevicius, of Victoria Street in Quorn, Leicestershire, admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving on August 30, 2024.
Peter Gotch, mitigating, said Kudrevicius had expressed genuine remorse and sorrow.
Mr Gotch told the court: “He has always accepted it is his fault.”
The court heard Kudrevicius arrived in the UK from Lithuanua in 2014 and had mostly worked in driving jobs.
“In that time he has had one speeding conviction in 2021,” Mr Gotch explained.
“He is also a man without criminal convictions.”
The injuries suffered by Kudrevicius during the collision meant he was no longer working and had lost the home he shared with his partner.
Mr Gotch said Kudrevicius did not feel tired on the day of the crash and was trying to do the right thing.
“He was on the road for two-and-a-half hours before the collision and during that time took two breaks,” Mr Gotch added.
“As far as he was concerned there were no warning signs of tiredness.”
Before passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin-Knight explained to the public gallery: “No sentence I pass is going to mark the loss of Shinead to all of you.”
Judge Sjolin-Knight told Kudrevicius there could be no other explanation than he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
“You continued for half a mile or 30 seconds driving normally but on the wrong side of the road,” Judge Sjolin-Knight said.
“The only explanation is that you fell asleep in the dark at night on what is a rather featureless road.”
Judge Sjolin-Knight said she could not take the use of cannabis or alcohol by Kudrevicius into account but did find he was driving while tired.
Kudrevicius, who listened to the hearing via a Lithuanian interpreter, was also banned from driving for seven years three months, and must take an extended retest.
The court heard Kudrevicius will also be liable for automatic deportation.
Judge Sjolin-Knight concluded by paying tribute to Shinead.
“The role she played as a confidant to so many people is striking,” Judge Sjolin-Knight noted.
The judge also paid tribute to three members of the public who pulled Shinead from the car and tried to help her.
