Gary Clayton Craven, aged 32 and of Crock Lane, Bridport, was sentenced to six years in prison today after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
The crash occurred on the A35 Sea Road South on Monday 13 November 2017. Mr Clayton was also disqualified from driving for four years, with the ban due to begin when he is released from prison.
Craven was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 20 January 2020 after being found guilty at an earlier trial at the same court.
The defendant was driving a Mercedes E350, who was involved in a collision with a Mitsubishi L200 Warrior pick-up truck being driven by 64-year-old Steven Spear from Bridport.
Mr Spear died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. Craven had three passengers who also sustained serious injuries.
Craven ran away from the scene following the collision, leaving one of his passengers trapped in the rear seat of the car.
He was located at his home address at around 1.50am on the morning of Tuesday 14 November 2017 and arrested.
In a statement from Steven’s family, they said: “Steve was a wonderful man. He was a loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and brother, and a good friend to many. His death has profoundly affected many people’s lives. He was a big personality and a generous spirit who was not only loved by his family and friends but also widely respected and liked by the community at large.
“There are no winners in a case like this; we hope that Mr Craven will use his time in jail to reflect on his irresponsible behaviour, on the night that Steve was killed, and the impact that it has had on not only Steve’s family and friends but also his own.”
Emergency spaces opened up for rough sleepers following cold snap