Drug driver jailed for fatal M25 crash

Daryll Henderson was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court

A drug driver has been jailed for 10 years for a fatal crash on the M25 in which two of his friends died and another person was injured.

Daryll Henderson, 33, had used cannabis and cocaine before the crash near Bletchingley in Surrey on 23 February 2023, Surrey Police said.

The Bristol resident had pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at a hearing in June and was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday.

Det Con Matthew Lloyd said: “Henderson's decision has robbed two families of their sons, and the life of the passenger who survived will never be the same."

Henderson was driving his blue Mercedes A-Class when he lost control and hit a fence and a tree, before crashing into a lamp post, police said.

Front seat passenger Jamie Baines, 31, and rear seat passenger Mohammed Quereshi, 29, both from Bristol, died as a result.

Henderson and a second rear seat passenger also had serious injuries and were treated at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

'Devastating' consequences

Surrey Police said the motorway was blocked for more than eight hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A blood sample taken from Henderson following the collision showed he was over the legal limit for both cocaine and cannabis, police said.

Surrey Police added that during an interview, he admitted to being the driver and to smoking cannabis with his friends in the car prior to the crash.

Mr Lloyd said: “The message cannot be stated enough – do not take drugs and drive. The consequences of doing so can be devastating.”