Daniel Booth, 31, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of cyclist Neil Routley, 56, while driving 16 times over the legal drug limit. The collision occurred on June 29 of last year when Booth, after a cocaine binge, swerved across the road and crashed head-on into Mr. Routley.
Police bodycam footage captured the moment Booth was informed of the cyclist's death. He was found to have 14 micrograms of cocaine and 800 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) in his system, significantly exceeding the legal limits of 10 micrograms and 50 micrograms, respectively. The court heard that Booth had consumed cocaine approximately 12 hours before the incident, and the drug's lingering effects impaired his driving ability.
Dashcam footage from Booth's Mercedes showed him driving erratically in the minutes leading up to the crash, hitting kerbs and verges, and yawning as he stated he felt tired. He swerved into the right-hand lane on a country road shortly before the fatal head-on collision.
Mr. Routley, a former maths teacher who had recently pursued his dream of becoming a cycle mechanic, died at the scene from catastrophic injuries. His wife, Jo Routley, described him as a much-loved husband, brother, and son, who was active and passionate about cycling. She stated that his death was caused by a "selfish and thoughtless act" that would continue to impact his family and friends.
Booth pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Bristol Crown Court. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Picton acknowledged Booth's remorse but emphasized the well-known dangers of drug driving. Booth was also disqualified from driving for five years and must pass an extended test before his license can be reinstated.
Investigating officer Emma Ling highlighted that the tragedy was not an unavoidable accident but a consequence of Booth driving while unfit. She stressed that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol significantly increases the risk of serious collisions, calling it one of the "fatal five" common causes of such incidents. Prosecutor Christine Hart commended the thorough police investigation and partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service for building a compelling case that led to Booth's guilty plea.