A drug-fuelled crash that killed a 28-year-old woman and left two others seriously injured has landed the culprit behind bars for six years.
Deadly Collision on A26
Niall O’Malley, 30, was speeding down the A26 at Ringmer in his black Audi S3 on the evening of 26 May 2024 when disaster struck. Just after 7.25pm, he swerved into the wrong lane and smashed head-on into a Peugeot 2008 carrying a Uckfield couple.
The female driver of the Peugeot suffered catastrophic injuries and died in hospital four days later. Her 30-year-old partner escaped but with serious injuries.
O’Malley Over Cannabis Limit
O’Malley, from Nevill Road, Uckfield, and his 24-year-old female passenger were both badly hurt in the crash. A blood test taken while O’Malley was in hospital showed 2.9 microgrammes of cannabis per litre of blood — over the legal limit of 2 microgrammes.
He admitted causing death and serious injuries by careless driving while over the cannabis limit. At Hove Crown Court on 28 November, O’Malley was slapped with six years in jail and banned from driving for 89 months.
Judge Condemns ‘Avoidable Distraction’
Judge Gold slammed the crash as the result of a “brief but avoidable distraction” with “tragic” consequences. The sentence was reduced from eight years due to O’Malley’s early guilty plea.
Police Warn: Drugs and Driving Don’t Mix
“No matter how competent a driver you think you may be, illegal drugs such as cannabis can significantly impair your ability to drive safely,” said Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin.
“They can remain in your system far longer than alcohol. Taking others in the car while under the influence is even more irresponsible – their lives are in your hands.”
Detectives paid tribute to the victims and praised their families’ strength during the investigation. The case is part of Operation Ohio, Sussex Police’s drive to crack down on dangerous driving.
