Mechanic jailed for killing man in customer’s car on test drive

Technician lost control and crashed into another car while under the influence of drugs

Mechanic jailed for killing man in customer’s car on test drive
Russell Vines was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

A mechanic who killed a pensioner while test driving a customer’s car he’d just fixed has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Russell Vines, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was taking the Honda Prelude “around the block” when he lost control and crashed into another car.

74-year-old Winstone Cotterell, who was in the other car with wife Janet, became trapped in his vehicle and later died in hospital.

Janet suffered serious injuries including fractures to her ribs, sternum and leg.

Death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs

Vines pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs and causing death while uninsured in February last year.

When Vines had a blood test six hours later he was found to have 1.1 part cannabis per litre of blood.

The court heard though it was not possible to back calculate his cannabis level he would have been significantly impaired to drive safely.

Charles Row, defending Vines, said: “He is genuinely sorry.

“He is full of remorse for what he has caused to this family.

“He accepts he was entirely at fault.

“A poor over-reaction caused the crash and the death of Mr Cotterell.

“There is no doubt remorse is genuine.”

Mr Row said his client was more interested in fixing cars than driving them and on the day in question was taking the Honda “around the block” after working on its radiator.

Vines accepted smoking cannabis the night before, but said he felt perfectly well when he drove.

Home Page Forums Mechanic jailed for killing man in customer’s car on test drive

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  • #181117 Reply

    A mechanic who killed a pensioner while test driving a customer’s car he’d just fixed has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Russell Vines, who w
    [See the full post at: Mechanic jailed for killing man in customer’s car on test drive]

    #181185 Reply
    Andy
    Guest

    Why was he uninsured. Was he working for a company or just an unregistered side of the road mechanic. At 19 he certainly would struggle to be fully trained and qualified mechanic yet there is no mention of a garage. I’m not saying this couldn’t have happened if he was employed by a reputable company but if the worse had happened at least there would be insurance

    #181186 Reply
    bowser
    Guest

    as with any policy it is void if you are found to be under the influence of any narcotic or substance, he may have been “covered” on the companies insurance until he was found to be under the influence then all insurance indemnity is null and void instantly.

    #181248 Reply
    Peter Miles
    Guest

    Three lives totally ruined. The poor man who was killed, his seriously injured wife and the idiot mechanic. He’ll be out after, at most, two years which I think is a scandal in itself but with this on his record he’ll be very lucky to make anything of himself for the rest of his life. Unless he takes up drug dealing I suppose….

    #181316 Reply
    Mr N Greenaway
    Guest

    Tragic things happen to young people like this! With ingredients such as drugs lack of awareness tunnel vision and disregard for others from living entirely in your own bubble is a recipe destined to lead to disaster, unfortunately everyone goes through their own learning curve. I hope he learns from this experience it is difficult to determine what jail sentence is necessary for taking a life because at some point a custodial sentence for his age group can cause more harm than good.

    #198902 Reply
    Julie
    Guest

    Mr Greenaway, you say how ‘tragic things happen to young people like this’ and yet no mention of my Mother who had to lie in Southmead Hospital with fifteen broken bones on the evening of the accident whilst my Sister and I could see the heart monitor slowing. We then had to tell her that Dad had gone and witness her tears as the Wedding ring, my Father put on her finger fifteen years ago was cut off by a tearful Nurse.

    Mr Greenaway, we all make choices in life and most of us are aware of the potential consequences of the wrong choices, process the information and then do the sensible and correct thing. Mr Vines had choices to make whilst my parents had no such choices on this occasion and so, with respect, I would suggest that was, in fact, the tragic thing.

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