Latest news with #A131
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
A131 crash: Van driver jailed over fatal collision
A man who admitted causing death by dangerous driving after falling asleep at the wheel has been sentenced to more than five years in prison. Will Dohmatob, 30, of Rossington Close, Enfield, fell asleep whilst driving on the A131 at Twinstead, Essex, when his box van crashed with a motorcyclist in February 2024. Andrew Rayner, 44, had been riding at the back of a group of motorcyclists when he was hit by the van. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Dohmatob appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday where he was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for about 10 years. Officers from the roads policing unit at Essex Police were called to reports of a serious collision at about 10:40 GMT on 3 February 2024 on the A131. Police said Dohmatob had fallen asleep at the wheel which caused his vehicle to veer across the carriageway, hitting Mr Rayner's motorbike. The van left the road and came to rest in a ditch, with Dohmatob only waking up following the impact. Police later established that he had little to no sleep over a 30-hour period prior to the crash. In a tribute issued at the time, Mr Rayner's family described him as a man "whose warmth and kindness touched the lives of all who knew him"."Andy was dearly loved by Rachel, his fiancée, and was a loving father, brother, and son. Andy, who truly loved his motorcycles, was a big part of the Essex Biker Meet Up Group and his presence will be deeply missed."Det Con Edward Gosling said: "Driving tired can have catastrophic results: tiredness can slow down your reactions and affect how you drive."Never start driving when you are already tired." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Sleep-deprived delivery driver who killed motorcyclist on the way to buy wedding rings with his fiancée is jailed
An intoxicated delivery driver who fell asleep at the wheel and killed a motorcyclist who was on his way to buy wedding rings has been jailed for more than five years. 'Kind' Andy Rayner, 44, was killed in a head-on collision with a van when sleep-deprived Will Dohmatob nodded off behind the wheel while on the A131 last year. Mr Rayner was travelling on his motorbike with a group of friends and was going to buy wedding rings with his fiancée, Rachel, later that day. Dohmatob had arrived late to work on February 3 having had 'very little sleep' over the preceding 31 hours, making him 'plainly unfit to drive through tiredness'. The killer driver has also texted his partner that he was 'in Harlow smoking a spliff' in the hours before getting behind the wheel of the Mercedes Sprinter company van. Prosecutor Gavin Burrell said Dohmatob had fallen asleep whilst approaching the corner and failed to steer round the bend. He crossed into the opposite side of the road and Mr Rayner - who was with a group of motorcycling friends having set off from Wickford and headed towards Sudbury - was left with 'nowhere to go'. Mr Rayner, who was at the rear of the group, was tragically struck head-on by Dohmatob while Dohmatob did not wake up until the van came to a stop having crashed into a ditch. Chelmsford Crown Court heard Dohmatob had a 'very bad record' of driving, including convictions for driving with excess alcohol and drugs. The prosecution added that text messages between Dohmatob and his partner indicated he had been involved in drug use overnight. He had refused to provide a blood sample which Judge Morgan said was 'a clear indication that you were aware the substance was in your system'. A letter written by Dohmatob, read by defence barrister Kane Sharpe, said he was carrying a 'weight of regret, sorry and irreversible truth of what happened'. He also accepted that there were no excuses for what he had done. Judge Christopher Morgan said Dohmatob's actions had 'robbed a family of a son, a partner, a brother and a father'. Andy's fiancée, Rachel, was set to get married this September and described her partner as a 'kind, funny, caring person with a dry sense of humour'. She added: 'He would always help people less fortunate than himself. He would have dinner ready for me after work, do jobs in the house and bake cakes. 'He loved his family and adored his son. February 3, 2024, changed our days forever.' Dohmatob, who has two children of his own, also wrote in his letter: 'I feel this with me every day through the images and repeated flashbacks of the moment. 'I know nothing can bring Mr Rayner back but I hope that I can show I'm not the same man who caused that fatal mistake. 'Once I'm sentenced, I want to give back to the community and help others in any way that I can. I accept responsibility and know what my reality is.' The killer driver raised a hand towards his family as he was sent to begin his sentence behind bars. 'There were ample opportunities for you to pull over and stop,' the Judge said. 'Whether you recognised it was dangerous for you to continue I will never know.' Dohmatob, who had admitted causing Mr Rayner's death by dangerous driving, was given a custodial sentence of five years and nine months imprisonment. He was also given a nine year and 10 month disqualification from driving.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Fans 'stranded' after Justin Timberlake's Chelmsford concert
Music fans have reported facing long delays as they tried to leave a Justin Timberlake ten-time Grammy Award winner performed at Chelmsford City Racecourse, in Essex, on Friday evening as part of Chelmsford City Live. But afterwards frustrated concert-goers said it had taken several hours to leave car parks as streams of vehicles queued for exits. One post claimed people were "stranded in a field".Chelmsford City Live's promoters and the racecourse have been approached for comment. Timberlake was the headliner on the first night of the three-day event, attracting a crowd of about 25,000. Traffic issues had begun before the concert, when a car fire on the A131 caused the event, as fans tried to head home, car parks became gridlocked as vehicles which had earlier been marshalled into rows tried to move post said: "Justin Timberlake was brilliant but the whole evening has been overshadowed by the poorly managed traffic." Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & Chic and JC Stewart take to the stage on Saturday. Witham-born singer Olly Murs said performing on Sunday would be the biggest gig he had ever done in Essex. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
