A MAN from Surrey has been jailed for causing the ‘needless’ death of a man in Crowthorne last year.
Rhys Hargreaves, 24, of Blackheath Road, Farnham, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after he admitted causing the death of father-of-one Garry Holmes on May 14, 2015.
Hargreaves was also disqualified from driving for five-and-a-half years and must pass an extended test in order to get his licence back.
The court heard how Hargreaves was travelling in a white Ford Transit van on the A3095 Forresters Way in Crowthorne when his vehicle drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic, colliding with the vehicle Mr Holmes was travelling in at around 8.15pm. The 36-year-old roofer, from Sandhurst, died at the scene.
Investigating officer Sgt Ashley Hannibal from the Thames Valley Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was described at court as ‘a needless death caused by a significant distraction’.
“It appears that Rhys Hargreaves was so distracted that he caused his vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic with such tragic consequences.
“My thoughts remain with the family of Mr Holmes through what has been a very difficult time.”