Drunk Driver Slams Pedestrian to Death in Eynsford
Maurice McAnallen, 63, had drunk up to five pints of lager before his Range Rover mounted a pavement and fatally struck a man earlier this year.
Fatal Crash on Eynsford High Street
On 25 January 2020, McAnallen had been boozing at a football club in Chislehurst all afternoon. Around 6.30pm, he got behind the wheel and headed to an address where he was staying in Eynsford.
Just after 7pm, on Eynsford High Street, his vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the road, mounted the pavement, and hit Andrew Miller, 62, who was out walking his dog.
The car then crashed into two parked vehicles. Emergency crews rushed to the scene but Mr. Miller was pronounced dead at the spot.
Dangerous Driving and High Blood Alcohol Level
Police arrested McAnallen after he failed a roadside breath test. Witnesses reported seeing him swerving dangerously across lanes, even driving onto a grass bank near Swanley on the A20.
Blood tests revealed McAnallen’s alcohol level was roughly 199mg per 100ml of blood—almost two and a half times the UK legal limit of 80mg.
Jailed for Four Years Over Deadly Drunk Driving
McAnallen, from Stead Close, Chislehurst, pled guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while over the alcohol limit at Maidstone Crown Court.
On 2 November, he was sentenced to four years and two months in prison. After release, he will be banned from driving for six years and one month and must pass an extended driving test before getting his licence back.
DC Dawn Smith of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said, “Maurice McAnallen made the decision to get behind the wheel knowing full well he was far too drunk to drive. His reckless actions turned his car into a lethal weapon.”
“The tragic consequences will undoubtedly cause lasting pain for Andrew’s family. Drink driving ruins lives. While no sentence can ease their loss, we hope this verdict offers some closure.”
