A tragic incident on the A4063 Aberkenfig bypass in Wales resulted in the death of 49-year-old Byron Jeanes after a BMW driver crashed into him at a speed of 89mph. Ricky Perkins, 32, lost control of his vehicle in poor weather conditions and aquaplaned into a layby where Mr. Jeanes was waiting for his friend. The collision occurred in a 50mph zone near a busy motorway junction at 5.45am on January 20, 2021.
During a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, it was revealed that Perkins collided with Mr. Jeanes shortly after undercutting another vehicle on the road. Despite the drizzle at the time, heavy rain during the night had left surface water, contributing to the dangerous conditions. Perkins’ car veered out of control, hitting a lamppost and Mr. Jeanes before coming to a stop approximately 100 metres away.
Investigations showed that Perkins was travelling too fast for the conditions and failed to account for the presence of surface water on the road. Perkins, of Maesteg, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing in June. A victim impact statement from Mr. Jeanes’ wife, Michelle, detailed the profound loss and devastation suffered by their family as a result of the tragic incident.
Perkins, remorseful from the moment of the collision, was diagnosed with PTSD following the events of that day. Despite his clean criminal and driving record, Perkins was sentenced to five years in prison and disqualified from driving for five years and six months. He will need to pass an extended driving test if he wishes to drive again. Additionally, Perkins was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.
The judge, Shomon Khan, highlighted the inappropriateness of Perkins’ manner of driving in the prevailing weather conditions and emphasised the devastating impact of his actions. Perkins’ defence lawyer acknowledged his client’s remorse and the irreversible consequences of his actions, stressing the important lesson for others about the dangers of speeding in adverse conditions. The court recognised the profound loss suffered by both families involved and reiterated the importance of driving responsibly to prevent such tragedies in the future.