Eastbourne fatal crash drug-driver Jodan Hunt jailed

Maria Smith was a passenger in Richard Lewis-Clements's Volkswagen Polo

A driver who killed two people in a crash when he was 16 times over the drug-driving limit has been jailed.

Jodan Hunt, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Guildford Crown Court.

Maria Smith, 48, from Eastbourne, and Richard Lewis-Clements, 46, of Buxted, died when Hunt's car hit three others in Eastbourne last month.

He was jailed for six years for each offence, to run concurrently, and banned from driving for eight years.

He is also required to take an extended retest should he wish to reapply for a driving licence after he leaves prison.

Jodan Hunt fled the scene of the crash and was found in a hotel several hours later

Ms Smith was a passenger in Mr Lewis-Clements's car which was in collision with Hunt's Seat Leon at the junctions of King Edward's Parade, South Cliff, and Bolsover Road at about 21:30 BST on 12 August.

Hunt's car then went on to collide with two other cars.

Sussex Police said Hunt abandoned his car and was located two-and-a-half hours later at the nearby Cavendish Hotel, in Grand Parade, where he had been attending a wedding reception.

Richard Lewis-Clements's car was among four vehicles involved in the crash in Eastbourne

Sgt Dan Pitcher, of the East Sussex Roads Policing Team, said Hunt was over the drink-drive limit.

"But most shockingly, he also tested positive for having 800mcg of benzoylecgonine - the major metabolite of cocaine - per litre of blood in his system.

"The legal limit is 50mcg, meaning he was an incredible 16 times the legal limit."