Man jailed for three years after fatal drink-driving crash

A man who caused a fatal crash while over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Jack Goodman, 27, of Golitha Rise, Liskeard, had also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving to another passenger.

The collision occurred on Friday 26 April 2024 at Halwell Cross, near Totnes. Rear-seat passenger Thomas “Tommy” McNally, 31, from Torbay, died in hospital two days later. A front-seat passenger also sustained serious injuries, which he is still recovering from.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that Goodman had consumed a pint of lager and eight pints of Guinness before getting behind the wheel of his Seat Leon with three passengers on board.

It was described how Goodman had been drinking at a pub in Blackawton from around 2.30pm with work colleagues and left just before 9pm with three passengers, one of whom was dropped off at Totnes Railway Station. 

During the journey one of the passengers sent a text message expressing their concern at the manner of driving, and a phone call was answered in the car, with the caller overhearing a passenger asking Goodman to slow down.

Emergency services discovered the vehicle embedded in a hedge at around 9.30pm. Goodman sustained minor injuries and was arrested at the scene.

Returning to court on Friday 23 January 2026, Goodman was sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from driving for five years upon release.

Detective Sergeant Troy Bennett, from the Serious Collisions Investigation Team, said: "In his summing up, Judge Robert Linford said Goodman did not set out to cause the death of Tommy McNally and seriously injure his front seat passenger, however that consequence is exactly what happened because he drank to excess and then drove. This was a totally avoidable and utterly needless death."

He added: "Driving whilst impaired through alcohol is one of the most dangerous behaviours identified in the 'fatal five' causes of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. My simple message to motorists is to not drink and then drive. This collision has had a devastating impact on the friends and family of Tommy, and also the other passenger, who is still recovering from his injuries almost two years later."