Man sent to prison for causing two deaths by dangerous driving

A 29-year-old man has been sent to prison after his dangerous driving caused the deaths of two people.

On the evening of June 3, 2022, Aaron David Smith, previously of Higham Ferrers, was driving a BMW 3 Series through Rushden.

Inside the vehicle were 41-year-old Carrie Ann McLellan, 21-year-old Brian Sibanda, and another man in his 20s.  

However, as the vehicle travelled through Rushden, witnesses described it as behaving erratically, overshooting junctions and driving beyond the speed limits.

When Smith got to the roundabout junction where John Clark Way meets Tyne Way and Spire Road, he lost control of the car, causing it to become airborne and leave the road.

As a result of the collision, Carrie and Brian sadly died at the scene.

Police were called and Smith was arrested. He was subsequently charged a short time later with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

After pleading guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court in April, Smith returned to the same court this month (May 3) where he was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison.

At the hearing, a number of victim impact statements were read out by the two families, including Carrie McLellan’s partner who described her as “that person who lit up the room and was the life and soul of the party. She would always have a smile on her face and would always have time to give advice or cuddles to friends and family when needed.”

Brian Sibanda’s mother also had a statement read out which said: “Brian was loving, caring and considerate. He was my ‘big bear’. I called him my ‘gentle giant’ because that is exactly what he was. He was very gentle.”

Lead investigator - Detective Constable Lydia Watters from Northamptonshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “No sentence will ever make up for the losses of Carrie and Brian however I hope their families can take a small amount of comfort from the fact that there has been some element of justice delivered here.

“On that day in June 2022, Aaron Smith made a choice and that choice was to drive dangerously and way beyond the limits of the road.

“As a result, he became responsible for the deaths of two much-loved people and I hope he spends a lot of time reflecting on this fact in prison and also when he is released.

“This was a complex case to investigate but I hope it demonstrates the steadfastness of Northamptonshire Police and our determination to ensure families achieve justice for their loved-ones.

“Our thoughts remain with both Carrie and Brian’s families and will do so long into the future.”