Man who caused death of innocent woman in New Year’s Eve collision near Ramsbury jailed

A man has been jailed for causing the death of a woman by careless driving on New Year’s Eve in 2021.

Zak Lacey, 26, of Stag Hill, Chilton Foliat, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at Swindon Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, January 22).

Jessica Dominy, 32, died after a car driven by Lacey collided with her on the B4192 in Whittonditch, near Ramsbury.

Lacey was jailed for two years and disqualified from driving for five years, with an extended retest to begin after his custodial period has been served.

At around 3.10pm on December 31, 2021, Lacey – who was travelling southbound in a black Audi A4 – veered over the central white line after failing to navigate a left-hand bend, colliding head-on with a white Ford Fiesta being driven by Ms Dominy.

Ms Dominy was declared dead at the scene and Lacey was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Enquiries found that Lacey had been driving while tired and on prescribed medication likely to cause drowsiness.

He was also found to be distracted by an unanswered phone call coming into his phone and was travelling between 67mph and 72mph – above the 60mph speed limit.

Sergeant Rich Hatch, of Wiltshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “Jessica’s family have had to wait for more than three years for this verdict and our thoughts remain with them at this time.

“The sentence passed yesterday reflects the severity of the incident.

“Due to a combination of speed, fatigue and distraction, Lacey caused the death of an innocent woman who was just travelling home from work.

“I hope that this, like other similar collisions we have dealt with, will serve as a warning to other road users to serious consider their actions when they get behind the wheel of their vehicles.

“Even prescribed drugs can have an adverse effect on people’s ability to drive and make decisions.

“My thoughts and those of my team go out to the Dominy family as no sentence can ever bring back their daughter.”