A drug driver has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after striking and killing a grandmother while traveling at 85mph on the wrong side of the road. Dwayne Arney collided head-on with 60-year-old Rosemary Wooldridge's vehicle outside her residence in Plymouth, Devon, just days before Christmas in 2024.
Details of the Incident
CCTV footage captured Arney driving an Audi A4 Quattro at speeds exceeding 50mph above the posted limit before a loud crash is heard. Another angle shows the Audi speeding on the wrong side of a 30mph road before smashing into Ms Wooldridge's Ford Fiesta. The grandmother suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arney fled the crash site but was later apprehended by Devon and Cornwall Police at his home, over two miles away. The 34-year-old subsequently admitted to causing death by dangerous driving, possessing a class A drug, and driving without insurance or a valid licence.
Court Proceedings
During sentencing at Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Robert Linford described Arney's driving as 'ludicrous' and his decision to flee as 'cowardly and callous'. Arney was jailed for 12 years and banned from driving for 18 years.
The court heard that Arney had collected the powerful Audi intending to purchase it. After stopping for fuel, he accelerated on Ham Drive so aggressively that his passenger asked him to slow down. The Audi, then on the wrong side of the road, collided head-on with Ms Wooldridge's vehicle as she arrived home on December 17, 2024.
When tracked down by police, Arney attempted to swallow a wrap of cocaine, which officers recovered. He was taken to hospital before being released into custody. Blood analysis confirmed he was under the influence of a controlled drug. The Audi was later deemed unroadworthy. Arney's passenger sustained no significant injuries.
Police and Family Statements
Detective Sergeant Troy Bennett of the Serious Collisions Investigation Team stated: 'This is one of the most egregious examples of dangerous driving I have encountered in my career. The defendant chose to drive at more than 80mph in a residential street, while impaired by drugs, without a licence or insurance, and then fled the scene after causing a fatal collision. His actions showed a complete disregard for the law and for human life and tragically resulted in the wholly avoidable death of Rosemary Wooldridge.'
Ms Wooldridge's family paid tribute, saying: 'Rosemary was the heart of our family, a devoted mum, a cherished daughter, a much-loved sister, a deeply adored nan, a treasured auntie, and a proud fiancée. She was full of warmth, mischief, and a love for life that made people feel instantly at ease. Her daft humour and her ability to bring people together were part of what made her so special.'
The family added that after years of hard work, Ms Wooldridge was beginning to enjoy retirement, but 'our grief is made even heavier knowing she never had the chance to meet her first great grandchild, a moment she was so looking forward to and so deserving of.'
