A drink driver who fled after causing a crash which killed a Nottinghamshire woman has been sent to prison for 12 years.
Matthew Scrimshaw also drove at three times the speed limit in his Audi TT RS before ploughing into Iris Higginson’s Toyota on Mansfield Road, Eastwood.
Mrs Higginson, 68 and from Brinsley, died at the scene.
Three of Scrimshaw’s friends travelling in the car were also injured, one of them seriously, in the December 9 2014 crash.
He fled the scene and hid at the home of an ex-girlfriend, but was arrested shortly afterwards.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving at Nottingham Crown Court after a jury found him guilty.
Scrimshaw, 37, of Halls Lane, Newthorpe, had at least 141 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood at the time of the crash. The legal limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
He fled and left his friends and the victim behind
Det Sgt James Greely, who investigated the crash, said: “Scrimshaw’s complete disregard for the safety of other road users extended even to his friends, one of whom suffered very serious injuries and was lucky to survive.
“He showed utter contempt not just for the law, but for everyone else who was affected by this devastating collision, which could have potentially resulted in more deaths.
“He fled the scene and left his friends and the victim behind, so determined was he to cover up his crime.”
The court heard Scrimshaw drove at speeds of up to 90mph through the village of Brinsley and towards Eastwood on the night, after he and his friends had been drinking at a nearby pub.
Picture: The scene of the crash with Mrs Higginson’s car to the left and Scrimshaw’s Audi to the far right
As well as driving at speed, the car had also strayed on to wrong side of Mansfield Road when it collided with the car being driven by Mrs Higginson in the opposite direction at around 10.50pm.
As well as being sentenced for death by dangerous driving, Scrimshaw was also sentenced to two and a half years in prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving to a passenger in his car, which will run concurrently.
He has also been banned from driving for 15 years.
Det Sgt Greely added: “Our thoughts go out to Mrs Higginson’s relatives who have lost someone they loved dearly because of the arrogance of a man who thought that the laws of drink driving and speeding simply did not apply to him.
“They apply to us all and this should serve as a stark reminder of the consequences if they are not observed and obeyed.”
