A drug driver who caused a fatal crash in Wickham Bishops and then ran from the scene has been jailed.

Marcus Wood has been jailed for five years and three months for death by careless driving and six months for escaping lawful custody, to run consecutively after the crash in Blue Mills Hill.

The incident shortly after 11pm on October 10, 2018 when Wood lost control of a black BMW 520in, veering onto the opposite side of the road, hitting a silver Ford Fiesta.

Both vehicles smashed into a grass verge, causing serious damage to both of them.

The driver of the Fiesta, David Jones, 39 from Southminster sadly died at the scene.

Wood, 21, of The Street, Terling quickly fled the scene after the incident.

Marcus Wood was driving a black BMW 520in Blue Mills Hill shortly after 11pm on October 10, 2018 when he lost control, veered onto the opposite side of the road and collided with a silver Ford Fiesta.

Both cars left the road and came to rest on a grass verge – the collision had caused extensive damage to both vehicles.

The Fiesta driver, 39-year-old David Jones from Southminster, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Wood, 21, of The Street, Terling, ran off from the scene and was located at his home address around 45 minutes later. After being arrested, he then tried to get away again making off from a police car but was located shortly after.

He was found at his home address around 45 minutes later.

After being arrested, he then tried to flee again, making off from a police car but was located shortly after.

Analysis of his phone calls showed that following the collision he had called his mother, 999 and a number of taxi companies.

A sample of his blood showed he had cannabis in his system.

He was charged and despite initially denying causing the crash, at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, February 28 he admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs and escaping lawful custody.

At the same court today, Thursday, May 16, he was jailed.

He was banned from driving for five years and 11 months, and must take an extended re-test.

Following the hearing, investigating officer Inspector Rob Brettell, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “Through his reckless actions, Marcus Wood has caused the death of an innocent man, depriving his family of a husband and a father.

“What makes it worse is that rather than stay at the scene to face up to what he had done, he ran off from the scene and tried to evade arrest.

“I’m just glad he finally admitted his crime and prevented Mr Jones’ family from having to re-live their ordeal through a trial.

“This incident shows the devastating consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs.

“Drugs slow your reactions, distort you’re your perception of space, reduce your co-ordination, and can make you drowsy.

“All these factors increase your chance of having a collision and, as this case tragically shows, the consequences can be truly heart-breaking.

“We have seen record numbers of people arrested on suspicion of drug driving in recent months and I hope this case will wake people up to the very real dangers of driving under the influence.”