Speeding driver on cocaine comedown jailed for killing woman in three-car crash

A company director on a “comedown” from cocaine who killed a woman in a three-vehicle crash has been jailed for six years.

Christopher Lynn drove into the rear of a Vauxhall Astra driven by Yvonne Nichol, which was forced into the path of an oncoming vehicle on the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle road near the village of Ashkirk in the Scottish Borders.

The 32-year-old was driving a Ford Ranger pick-up when he struck the car driven by Ms Nichol, 64, who later died from her injuries.

A judge told him: “You were travelling at 81 mph around five seconds or so prior to the collision with the white Astra.”

Two others sustained serious injuries in the crash on August 15, 2023.

Lord Clark said that victim impact statements prepared in the case were “harrowing” and showed the terrible impact of the crime.

He told Lynn that if he were sentencing him after a trial, he would have jailed him for eight years, but that would be reduced following his guilty plea.

Lord Clark said that he took into account in sentencing Lynn that he was a first offender who has expressed genuine remorse for his actions.

Lynn, of Dalkeith, in Midlothian, earlier admitted causing the death of Ms Nichol and serious injury to the others by driving dangerously. He was driving at excessive speed and while impaired by consumption of the Class A drug.

Advocate depute Alan Parfery said: “Having ingested cocaine at an earlier time, his reactions were slow and impaired because he was in the comedown phase.

“He had consumed cocaine at some time the previous day.”

He was found to be travelling at 66 mph when his Ford Ranger, which was subject to a 50 mph speed limit, hit the Astra driven by Ms Nichol, from Hawick. She was freed from her vehicle by firefighters and taken to Borders General Hospital, but died.

The court heard that Lynn was earlier travelling through Galashiels when he felt unwell and stopped, before resuming his journey.

Defence counsel Victoria Dow said that Lynn came from a good background and maintained employment throughout his adult life.

She said: “He is, in my submission, a man who deeply regrets his behaviour that led to this devastating accident.”

The court earlier heard that Lynn was a director in a family business and his role was in groundwork, fire protection and health and safety.

Lord Clark banned him from driving for nine years and told him he would not be allowed to obtain a driving licence until he passed the extended test.