A drug driver who fatally struck a mother-of-one while behind the wheel has been imprisoned. Jake Bolton, 36, was returning home from his position as a traffic maintenance operative when he collided with Himabindu Yadla - known as Bindu - as she was crossing Tramway Lane, Bamber Bridge. Bindu was propelled into the air before landing on the carriageway after being struck by Bolton's Audi S3, at approximately 6.30pm on October 24, 2024.
Victim died after 18 days on life support
She sustained catastrophic injuries and passed away at Royal Preston Hospital on November 11, having remained on life support for 18 days. Peter Barr, prosecuting, informed Preston Crown Court that during the incident, Bolton had been speaking to a friend via his hands-free mobile device. The motorist was sleep deprived and had double the legal threshold of cannabis in his system, reports Lancs Live.
The friend subsequently informed police the conversation lasted approximately 55 seconds and concluded with Bolton saying: "Oh no, I've just hit someone." A separate motorist, who witnessed the collision, described observing Bindu on the road prior to the incident. He stated that neither the driver nor pedestrian altered their course. His partner said it was as if the driver of the Audi could not see the woman and the pedestrian had 'tunnel vision'. "It was almost as if I had seen it happening before it did", she said.
Bolton cooperated and admitted charges
Bolton remained at the scene and contacted emergency services, informing a bus driver who had also stopped that he was responsible for the collision. He subsequently confirmed to police he was the driver and cooperated with the investigation, the court heard. The Audi was confiscated and inspected. While no mechanical fault was discovered that might have played a role in the collision, 6g of cannabis was discovered in the first aid kit located in the boot, the court was told.
Bolton, from Duddle Lane, Bamber Bridge, admitted to causing death by careless driving, driving with cannabis above the legal limit, driving without valid insurance and possession of a class B drug.
Victim's family describe devastating loss
In a victim impact statement, Bindu's brother Hemanth explained she had travelled to the UK to create a better life for herself and her daughter, whom she had left in the care of her parents in India. She had obtained a Masters degree in International Business Management and was on the verge of bringing the eight year old over to live with her. The young girl will now stay in India with her grandparents, who will bring her up while coping with their own grief over losing their daughter, he said.
"Her death was so sudden and unexpected. It left us all shocked and deeply traumatised. It has left a massive hole in our lives, not just here but in India, particularly for her daughter. She lost her mother and the future Bindu worked so hard to build for her." Kris Cavanagh, defending, stated that Bolton's remorse and guilt persist two years following the collision and he acknowledged that no sentence could reflect the damage he has caused. He explained that Bolton used cannabis to self medicate after a traumatic event. The defendant is a devoted family man with a strong work ethic who has abstained from alcohol and drugs since the crash, Mr Cavanagh told the court.
Judge: 'You took away a remarkable life'
Passing sentence, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: "Bindu Yadla was 37 years old. Those who knew her described her as a strong, intelligent, competent woman. She had overcome considerable difficulties including childhood polio and other adversities to build a successful life in the UK. She obtained a masters degree, established a career and was working towards bringing her young daughter to live with her in this country. She was remembered and hopefully always will be remembered as a hardworking and resourceful human being. She was a devoted mother and daughter, a person who would work tremendously hard to create a better future for herself and her family.
"You (Bolton) need to understand - and I'm sure you do - the remarkable life you took away. You had insufficient sleep, you were on a hands free telephone and you were over twice the legal limit of cannabis. You struck her and you killed her. Her brother describes the enduring impact on her family. She was in every sense the lynch pin between the older and younger generations. She was working towards bringing her daughter to live with her but those plans have been abandoned."
The judge noted that he had reviewed a pre-sentence report along with character references, both of which portrayed Bolton as a dedicated family man. "It is clear there is a lot of good in you," he said. "That day you chose to take cannabis and drive. Whilst you may in other respects be a thoroughly decent person, that is not a decent act. That is the act of someone who took an unwarranted and avoidable risk with the life of someone else and you have heard what the consequence of that was. It is your job to ensure you are fit to drive before you do."
Judge Altham noted that Bindu was a vulnerable road user, being a pedestrian whose mobility was affected by childhood polio, causing her to walk more slowly than others. He acknowledged Bolton's genuine remorse for his actions. Bolton was sentenced to 46 months in gaol for causing death by careless driving, with no additional penalty imposed for drug driving or driving without insurance. He received an absolute discharge for cannabis possession and was handed a 72-month driving ban.
