Marcus Haynes death: Widow speaks out over Fairlight crash

Pamela Haynes was in the Citroen Picasso driven by her husband Marcus Haynes which was struck head-on by dangerous driver Christopher Fenton near Hastings.

The crash left her with broken legs, ribs and other bones, and did serious damage to her internal organs, and she had to be airlifted to hospital via air ambulance.

Her husband sadly died at the scene of the crash leaving Fairlight, near the junction with Coastguard Lane.

Shocking images from the scene show the devastation caused by Fenton, who was three times the legal limit for cannabis and had also had two pints of beer before getting behind the wheel of his Audi.

At Hove Crown Court he was jailed for three years and eight months for causing death and serious injuries by dangerous driving.

The crash happened on March 6 last year at 6.45pm, with Mr and Mrs Haynes joined by their son Jeremy in the front passenger seat.

Fenton sped at 76mph and hit the family head on.

Mrs Haynes, 66, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, said: “I was involved in a serious road traffic collision with my husband Marcus and my son Jeremy. We were travelling along Fairlight Road on our way back to Gloucestershire.

The crash happened near the junction with Coastguard Lane, Fairlight on March 6, 2020

“On the day, my husband was alert and healthy. He was a safe driver.

“We were hit head-on by another vehicle. Miraculously Jeremy escaped with minor injuries. He has been left traumatised by the events.

“I sustained serious life-threatening injuries.”

She described being put into an induced coma for 16 days and said: “It was only after that when I learned the horror of what had actually happened, including the fact that Marcus had not survived.

“I was devastated. And owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was in hospital for four months without being able to have visitors.”

Dangerous driver Christopher Fenton killed Marus Haynes in a horror head-on collision in Fairlight near Hastings

The crash left her unable to control her own bodily functions as she has battled to learn to walk, eat and go to the toilet for herself once again.

Doctors had told her children to be prepared for the worst as she was in intensive care.

A year-on from the crash Mrs Haynes said: “I have still not recovered from the crash and the injuries are likely to be with me for the rest of my life.

“I am starting a new life without Marcus. He was a loving husband, father and son.”

She said Marcus had gone to Sussex before the first coronavirus lockdown to spread his mother’s ashes after looking after her for a year.

Mrs Haynes aded: “We have all been profoundly affected by his untimely death. He was the head of our family, our anchor, our rock.”

Dangerous driver Christopher Fenton killed Marus Haynes in a horror head-on collision in Fairlight near Hastings

Police were called to investigate the crash after Fenton had fled the area on foot.

He was later returned to the scene by his mother, and himself required hospital treatment.

Read more on this story: Drug-driver sped on rural road and killed much-loved father in horror crash

Detective Sergeant Rob Baldwin said: “Tragically, this is another case which highlights the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Christopher Fenton got behind the wheel of his car having consumed alcohol and smoked cannabis, and then drove recklessly.

“He left the collision scene on foot whilst other motorists had stopped to render urgent medical assistance, not returning for over an hour later.

Christopher Fenton admitted causing the death of Marcus Haynes and serious injuries to Pamela Haynes by his dangerous drug-driving in Fairlight

“Despite the devastation that he had caused, he continued to think it was acceptable to drive whilst under the influence of cannabis.

“Acting on information from the local community, officers from our Roads Policing Unit proactively targeted Fenton, resulting in his further arrest and prosecution. It is clear that he was an habitual cannabis user, who had no consideration for the significant risk he posed to other road users and himself.”

At Hove Crown Court Fenton admitted causing death and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Fenton, 40, of Lower Waites Lane, Fairlight, is now behind bars, and was banned from driving for five years and ten months.

He was jailed for three years and eight months.

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