Driver High on Cannabis Kills Man in Hit-and-Run on Crabble Hill
Donna Grant, 52, was caught driving under the influence of cannabis when she slammed into a man at 45 mph on December 17, 2020. The crash happened around 8.40pm on Crabble Hill, where the speed limit is just 30 mph. Instead of stopping, Grant slowed briefly then fled the scene, driving home to Folkestone.
Victim Found Lifeless in Skip
kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="2146">Kent Police were called after a man’s body was discovered in a skip near a low wall. The victim, a courier in his 50s, had just collected goods from a local business. His van was still parked nearby. Investigators believe the force of the collision threw him into the skip. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Serious Collision Investigation Unit swung into action, finding a damaged wing mirror matching a Ford Focus. Using local traffic cameras, police tracked the vehicle and confirmed it had front-end damage. The car was later seized from a recovery yard, smelling strongly of cannabis and sporting a broken light and cracked windscreen.
Grant Admits Crash but Denies Drug Use
Grant was arrested at her workplace the following day. She confessed to the accident, saying she contacted her insurance company immediately but believed she had hit an animal or bollard, not a person. She claimed she stopped briefly but couldn’t see in the dark, so left the scene. However, police found she only slowed down and searched online the next day for terms like “hit and run” and “body found in dover/" title="Dover" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dover.” Tests also confirmed cannabis in her bloodstream.
Four Years Behind Bars for Dangerous Driving
Grant was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. She admitted excessive speed but denied drug use and insisted she stopped at the scene. The judge rejected her claims, stating her cannabis use and failure to stop would heavily influence sentencing.
On July 5, 2022, at Canterbury Crown Court, Grant was sentenced to four years in prison. She was also banned from driving and will need to pass an extended driving test before being allowed back on the roads.
“The speed at which Grant was travelling meant she couldn’t have avoided the collision,” said Detective Constable Claire Fullagar.
“We believe she knew she hit someone, fled out of fear, and even searched online to see if it was reported. The victim might have survived if she’d called for help immediately.”
“Thankfully, the evidence led us to the truth. She will now serve time for the suffering caused. This is a grave lesson for her and others. A man lost his life, and his family will carry this pain forever.”
