Speeding van driver jailed for seven and a half years for causing fatal crash in Market Stainton near Horncastle

A speeding and impatient van driver who killed a woman and seriously injured three other people, including her brother, during a fatal crash was today (Monday) jailed for seven and half years.

Self employed joiner Uldis Stepins, 47, lost control of his van after he tried to overtake a lorry tanker in heavy rain on the B1225 at Market Stainton, north of Horncastle.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Stepins hit standing water after passing the tanker and careered into the opposite carriageway where it collided with a Hyundai 110 car which was travelling to a music festival in Horncastle.

Jasmine Gower, 29, who was a rear seat passenger in the Hyundai, died at the scene of the collision which occurred just after 5.30pm on 4 August, 2023.

Her brother, Cameron Cotterill, was also taken to hospital along with the driver of the Hyundai and another passenger in the car. All had suffered multiple fractures.

Dashcam footage which was played in court showed Stepins passing the tanker in "bad conditions."

Andrew Peat, prosecuting, said: "There was and had been heavy rain. Despite being summer there was little in the way of sunshine

"There was a large amount of standing water everywhere."

"The manoeuvre was obviously dangerous. The footage proves the defendant's van was travelling in excess of the 60mph limit," Mr Peat explained. "But the speed limit for the defendant's van was 50mph."

A victim impact statement was read out in court from Ms Gower's mother, Lisa Cotterill.

Mrs Cotterill said Jasmine was the "baby of the family" and described the unique sibling bond she had with her brother, Cameron.

"Jasmine was an incredibly special human being. From a young age she had a warmth and love for everyone around her," she wrote. "Animals were her passion."

Mrs Cotterill also described Jasmine and Cameron as "best friends."

"It is devastating for us as parents to watch him suffer," she explained. "He is lost."

Mrs Cotterill concluded: "Our lives have changed and will never be the same again."

Stepins, of Crowland Avenue, Grimsby, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Jasmine Gower by dangerous driving and three further offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

After his arrest Stepins gave a prepared statement in which he said he decided to overtake the tanker to avoid the spray it was kicking up.

Stepins said he managed to get past the tanker but his progress was then halted by standing water.

David Eager, mitigating for Stepins, admitted: "The defendant knows he has destroyed a family, because he has a family himself.

"He was driving a van because he is a joiner and was going home."

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight made it clear no sentence could mark the death of Jasmine Gower.

"When you started to overtake you would have had limited visibility of the road ahead," Judge Sjolin Knight told Stepins.

"Added to that the rain and spray made it harder to see.

"It can only be impatience which can have made you take the bad decision to overtake the lorry."

Judge Sjolin Knight added it was very clear that Stepins was driving in excess of 60mph.

"In those conditions that was not just speeding, but a dangerous speed for the conditions," Judge Sjolin Knight said.

Judge Sjolin Knight said she also had to take into account the injuries caused to the others in the car, including Ms Gower's brother.

"He should know, as for all of them in the car, that there was nothing they could do to save Jasmine," Judge Sjolin Knight explained.

Stepins was also banned from driving for 13 years, and must take an extended retest.