A man who was under the influence of alcohol and filmed himself while driving, moments before causing a fatal crash, has been sentenced to jail. Anton Hull had consumed rum and lager before colliding with Sarah Baker, who was on her way to Somerset for a weekend trip. The 29-year-old victim had recently completed her master’s degree and had made an offer on her first home. Hull, 21, has been described as “utterly selfish” by the victim’s family. The incident occurred near Wincanton, Somerset, around 11:00 PM on August 18, 2022.
Witnesses at the crash scene reported that Hull “stank of booze.” Prior to the collision, pub staff had refused to serve him due to his high level of intoxication, and others had advised him to leave his Ford Transit van in the parking lot. The victim’s family, originally from Kent but residing in London, expressed their grief, saying that the loss of Sarah has left an immense void in their lives. They emphasized that her death was entirely preventable and that the selfish act of one individual had shattered the lives of those close to her.
A blood test revealed that Hull, a resident of Galhampton, was approximately one-and-a-half to two times over the legal drink-drive limit. Despite initially refusing to provide the passcode for his mobile phone to the police, experts were able to gain access and discover videos of him recording himself while driving. In one video, Hull can be heard saying, “I don’t know about you, but I’m smashed.” He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving during a court hearing in October.
On Friday, Hull was sentenced to six years in prison and received a nine-year driving ban. Judge Edward Burgess condemned his actions, stating that his decision to drive despite warnings, knowing he was too intoxicated, resulted in the death of Sarah Baker. The judge emphasized that Hull’s driving was significantly impaired and that he had used his phone to document himself driving while under the influence. Dai Nicholas, the lead investigator in the case, described the incident as a “cruel snatching away” of Ms. Baker’s life and criticized Hull’s conscious choice to drive home as catastrophic.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of drink-driving and the importance of making responsible decisions.
