Man jailed for seven years and four months following fatal road collision in St Helens in 2022

A man has been jailed for seven years and four months today, Tuesday 6 August, following a fatal road traffic collision in St Helens in 2022.

Paul Whitfield (see above image), aged 54, of Hammond Street, St Helens, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following an incident on Tuesday 11 January 2022.

At around 12.30am, Whitfield was driving his blue Mazda 3 along Washway Lane when he was involved in a collision with 21-year-old Adam Cunliffe. Whitfield did not stop at the scene.

Merseyside Police and the North West Ambulance Service attended, but Adam was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

As well as a prison sentence, Whitfield will also be disqualified from driving for five years after he is released.

Adam Cunliffe

Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, Lead Investigating Officer from Merseyside Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Our thoughts remain very much with Adam’s family and his close friends. The events of that night have changed their lives forever.

“Whitfield made a deliberate decision to drive his vehicle that night when he knew that he was highly intoxicated through drink.  Having collided with Adam and despite warnings from other road users, Whitfield did not stop as one would expect, but instead continued to drive and he was arrested a short time later.

“I would like to thank members of the public who helped at the scene that evening. Through the tragedy, we saw the very best of human nature and for that we are grateful. 

Detective Sergeant Timpson added: “Road death is sudden and traumatic and causes unimaginable harm to people who become involved, including members of the public who see the aftermath of such awful circumstances.

“Merseyside Police will not tolerate people who drive whilst over the limit for drink or drugs.  We see too often the needless harm that this crime causes to our communities and work tirelessly to detect those responsible.  We are committed to the prevention of serious injury and death on the roads, to work towards Vision Zero – our strategy focused on reducing the amount of road traffic collisions in our region and to lower the number of people killed and seriously injured on our streets. We cannot do this alone and to that end, any information you have about drivers who flout the law can be reported to us and we will take action.

“As Whitfield begins his sentence today, Adam’s family have to try and rebuild their own lives caused by his selfish behaviour.  I thank them for their patience and the dignified way they responded throughout this investigation.

“The sentence issued at Liverpool Crown Court today by The Recorder of Liverpool shows that the courts will deal robustly with offenders and acts as a stark message to anyone whose selfish and reckless actions end in such tragedy.”