Man jailed after woman sadly died in a collision in Little Crosby

A man has been jailed for 8 years for causing death by dangerous driving after a woman was killed in a road traffic collision in Little Crosby.

 

Jack Caddick, 27, of Georgia Close, in Bootle, was sentenced on Friday 29 September at Liverpool Crown Court.

 

At around 1.25pm on Saturday 28 August 2021, Caddick was driving a red Mercedes C220 when he lost control on a bend on the B5193 Little Crosby Road, and collided head-on into a silver Honda CRV that was travelling in the opposite direction.

 

Claudia Forden, 22, was a passenger in the Mercedes and tragically died as a result of the collision.

 

A second passenger in the Mercedes, who was a woman aged in her 20s, and the driver of the Honda, who was a man in his 60s, suffered serious injuries and Caddick was also sentenced today for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

 

Following an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police’s MATRIX Serious Collision Investigation Unit, detectives established that Caddick was driving the Mercedes at a speed between 63-68mph along Little Crosby Road as he approached a left-hand bend heading towards Little Crosby village. 

 

The speed limit for the road at this point is 30mph and immediately prior to the bend, the Mercedes was still travelling at between 57-60mph. 

 

Due to the excessive speed, Caddick was unable to negotiate the bend and travelled onto the wrong side of Little Crosby Road, where he crashed the car into the Honda. 

 

Following the sentencing Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The decisions made by Caddick on that August afternoon in 2021 have left a grieving family devastated and two people with serious injuries. 

 

“Our thoughts remain with Claudia’s family and although no sentence can repair the devastation of what happened that afternoon, we hope it does at least provide some comfort as her family and friends continue to come to terms with the heart-breaking loss.

 

“Having collected Claudia and her friend from a nearby address, Caddick’s manner of driving and speed drastically changed, and this decision had catastrophic consequences. 

 

“Travelling at speeds more than double the speed limit, Caddick was unable to control the Mercedes and this was the primary cause of this devastating collision. 

 

“This case is a tragic example of the consequences of speeding for everyone involved and I’d urge any motorist to drive at speeds that are appropriate for the road and conditions.”

Claudia’s family would like to pass on their thanks to the people who helped at the scene and carried out first aid, along with the emergency services who attended and investigated the incident. 

Caddick received an 8 year prison sentence that will be subject to a one-third reduction due to a guilty early plea and has been disqualified from driving for 8 years and 8 months.