Cocaine driver killed grandfather in car with baby in head on collision
A driver lost control of his car and veered into oncoming traffic while high on cocaine before smashing headfirst into a car carrying a baby and killing her grandfather.
Paul Kingcombe, 51, from Collin Close in Plymouth, lost control of his car whilst under the influence of cocaine and oversteered after jerking to the left and hitting the grass verge, reports Cornwall Live.
As he tried to regain control, he oversteered into the opposite lane and crashed into a car driven by Paul May, who was driving his family - including his 18-month-old granddaughter - home from a Christmas party. It was later described as a "miracle" that the baby wasn't injured in the crash, but unfortunately Paul suffered injuries that he couldn't survive.
A sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court on Friday, July 25, was told that Kingcombe had been known to take drugs at work during his lunchbreaks and would "be bouncing off the walls in the afternoon" but was still allowed to drive home.
The court heard from Mr May's family of the devastation his death had caused and how the "void he left in their lives can never be filled".
In powerful victim impact statements, the May family expressed their immense sense of loss at losing a beloved father and grandfather who will not get the chance to play with his grandchildren as they grow.
Whitney May, Paul's daughter, was seriously injured in the crash and saw her baby daughter being taken away from the crash scene to hospital as she laid helpless and hurt in the car. She said while Kingcombe has received some injuries in the collision on December 27 2022, on the A388 at St Dominick, near Callington, "the mindless decision you made that day changed our lives forever".
She said: "My dad was my hero, my best friend, my everything. It didn't change your life like it changed ours. You carried on living while my dad died."
Her sister said their dad was the funniest man around and had been a great father. She said he was someone who would always help and he always reminded her to be careful on the road.
She added: "You have killed my dad and you have the same name. Paul May was someone you could rely on. You don't deserve the name 'Paul'. You have mentioned your mental health but you have had no thought for our own mental health and what you did to us all. I will never forgive you. You will not be part of our lives. You mean nothing to me. You are nothing.
"Your actions deprived us of the most wonderful man. My dad was the glue that held our family together. The hole you left in our hearts will never be filled."
His Honour Judge Carr said it had been a miracle that Whitney May's 18-month-old baby had survived unscathed from the crash.
Helen May, who received long-lasting serious injuries in the collision, which have reduced the mobility in her right arm, said Kingcombe had killed her husband and her children's father. She said Kingcombe had ruined all their lives. She told the court that for a long time after the crash she did not want to go into Plymouth for fear she might bump into the man responsible for the death.
She said: "I will never be able to be with Paul again. He went through cancer twice and survived. Paul was cancer-free, but his life was taken away from him just when he was supposed to be enjoying it."
The court heard how Mr May had been 65 at the time of his untimely death and had been working since he was 14 to provide for his family. He had been looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his family.
Kingcombe, who has a previous conviction for intent to supply cocaine for which he received a suspended sentence in 2018, was arrested after recovering from his own injuries and charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving and three of causing serious injuries by dangerous driving.
He pleaded guilty to all four charges at the earliest opportunity.
The court was told that in police interviews that Kingcombe couldn't explain the crash nor why he had taken cocaine for "I didn't knowingly take cocaine in the days before the collision".
He added: "I don't know how it occurred or why. My apologies and sympathies to all the people involved. I'm sorry I can't provide any explanation as I don't know myself."
The court was told that Kingcombe had made comments to colleagues about taking drugs and telling them he "doesn't care if he lives or gets hurt or killed in a car crash".
It was also heard that Kingcombe had tried to take his life on several occasions over the last three years because he couldn't cope with the guilt.
Jason Beal, defending Kingcombe, said no words could ever express any meaningful mitigation in response to the "carnage Kingcombe's actions had caused to so many people" or could compensate for the "incalculable loss" they have suffered.
He said Kingcombe cannot recall the events of that fateful day but accepted he had caused the death of Mr May and injured his family members by trying "to boost his energy levels by taking drugs" which was a "catastrophic decision" for so many other people.
Mr Beal said Kingcombe's mental health had deteriorated before the collision and his sleeping pattern was non-existent. He said he was bipolar and suffered from anxiety and depression and he started drinking more and taking drugs as a result. He added: "The real victims are Mr May and his family."
Judge Carr said it had taken far too long for this case to come to court. He said Mr May had been enjoying the festive season and had been happy when Kingcombe, for no apparent reason, lost control of his car and hit the Mays.
While noting that Kingcombe had expressed genuine remorse for his actions, he told him: "It's a miracle an 18-month-old baby escaped unhurt from this crash. The void left by Mr May's death will never be filled."
He told Kingcombe that receiving a suspended sentence for intent to supply cocaine in 2018 should have been a wake-up call, but it sadly was not. He added: "You have shown true remorse but your drug use was out of control at the time."
Judge Carr sentenced Kingcombe to 12 years in prison. He is also banned from driving for five years after his release from prison and will need to take an extended driving test before being allowed back behind the wheel.
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