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Drink-driver jailed for nearly 10 years after killing taxi driver and seriously injuring passenger in head-on crash
A 25-year-old motorist who drove while over the alcohol limit and caused a fatal collision with a taxi in Cannock has been sentenced to nine years and six months in prison.
A drink-driver who killed a taxi driver and left his passenger seriously injured following a collision in Staffordshire has been jailed for nine years and six months.
Joshua Stack, 25, from Stafford, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 30 October after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The collision happened in January 2024 when Stack drove his Vauxhall Corsa after consuming alcohol at a sports venue in the area.
He was travelling along the B5012 from Penkridge towards Cannock when his vehicle crossed a bridge, veered into the opposite carriageway and collided with an oncoming Toyota Avensis taxi.
The taxi was being driven by 50-year-old Sajid Ali, from Walsall, who suffered fatal injuries in the collision.
A male passenger in his 20s, who was travelling in the rear of the taxi, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been discharged but continues to recover from the incident.
Stack also suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital following the crash. A blood sample subsequently confirmed that he had been driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
The 25-year-old entered guilty pleas to both dangerous driving offences just days before his trial was due to begin.
At Stafford Crown Court, Stack received a prison sentence of nine years and six months. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and nine months and ordered to complete an extended driving re-test before being permitted to return to the roads.
DC Jim Addison, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Drink driving can devastate lives in an instant, as we have seen again in this tragic collision.
“Stack’s actions that day has taken away someone from their family forever and caused significant emotional and physical distress to another.
“I’m pleased that we have been able to build all of the evidence needed to make sure he is brought to justice.”
