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Mum was 'on the brink of a new life' when she was knocked down and killed

Jake Bolton was sleep deprived and had twice the legal limit of cannabis in his blood when he hit the victim

[Bindu]

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Himabindu Yadla, known as Bindu (Image: LancsLive/MEN Media)

A woman was killed after being struck by a car, with the driver having been found to be above the legal limit of cannabis.

Jake Bolton has been jailed for over three years for the heart-breaking crime.

The 36-year-old was on his way home from his job as a traffic maintenance operative when he struck Himabindu Yadla - known as Bindu - as she crossed Tramway Lane, Bamber Bridge.

LancashireLive reports Bindu was thrown into the air and landed on the road after being hit by Bolton's Audi S3. Her family tragically reveal she was working hard to bring her eight-year-old daughter to the UK.

The incident happened at around 6.30pm on October 24, 2024. She suffered catastrophic injuries and died in Royal Preston Hospital on November 11, having spent 18 days on life support.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court how at the time of the collision, Bolton was speaking to a friend on his hands-free mobile phone. The driver was sleep deprived and had twice the legal limit of cannabis in his blood.

The friend later told police the conversation lasted around 55 seconds and ended with Bolton saying: "Oh no, I've just hit someone."

Another driver, who saw the collision, described seeing Bindu in the road before the collision. He said neither the driver or pedestrian continued on their path.

His partner said it was as if the driver of the Audi could not see the woman and the pedestrian had 'tunnel vision'.

"It was almost as if I had seen it happening before it did", she said.

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Jake Bolton

Bolton stopped at the scene and called emergency services, telling a bus driver who also stopped that he was responsible for the collision. He later told police he was the driver and co-operated with the investigation, the court heard.

The Audi was seized and examined. There was no mechanical defect which could have contributed to the accident, however 6g of cannabis was found in the first aid kit in the boot, the court heard.

Bolton, of Duddle Lane, Bamber Bridge, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, driving with cannabis above the legal limit, driving without valid insurance and possession of a class B drug.

In a victim impact statement, Bindu's brother Hemanth said she had come to the UK to build a better life for herself and her daughter, who she had left with her parents in India. She had gained a Masters degree in International Business Management and was on the brink of bringing the eight-year-old to live with her.

Now the little girl will remain in India with her grandparents who will raise her alongside managing their own grief at the loss of their daughter, he said.

"Her death was so sudden and unexpected. It left us all shocked and deeply traumatised. It has left a massive hole in our lives, not just here but in India, particularly for her daughter. She lost her mother and the future Bindu worked so hard to build for her."

Kris Cavanagh, defending, said Bolton's remorse and guilt remain two years after the collision and he recognised no sentence could reflect the damage he has caused. He said Bolton used cannabis to self medicate after a traumatic event.

The driver is a family man with a strong work ethic and has not consumed any alcohol or drugs since the collision, Mr Cavanagh said.

Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: "Bindu Yadla was 37 years old. Those who knew her described her as a strong, intelligent, competent woman.

"She had overcome considerable difficulties including childhood polio and other adversities to build a successful life in the UK. She obtained a masters degree, established a career and was working towards bringing her young daughter to live with her in this country.

"She was remembered and hopefully always will be remembered as a hardworking and resourceful human being. She was a devoted mother and daughter, a person who would work tremendously hard to create a better future for herself and her family.

"You (Bolton) need to understand - and I'm sure you do - the remarkable life you took away.

"You had insufficient sleep, you were on a hands free telephone and you were over twice the legal limit of cannabis. You struck her and you killed her.

"Her brother describes the enduring impact on her family. She was in every sense the lynch pin between the older and younger generations. She was working towards bringing her daughter to live with her but those plans have been abandoned."

The judge said he had read a presentence report and references which described Bolton as a family man.

"It is clear there is a lot of good in you," he said. "That day you chose to take cannabis and drive. Whilst you may in other respects be a thoroughly decent person, that is not a decent act.

"That is the act of someone who took an unwarranted and avoidable risk with the life of someone else and you have heard what the consequence of that was.

"It is your job to ensure you are fit to drive before you do."

Judge Altham said Bindu was a vulnerable road user as she was a pedestrian who walked slower than others due to her childhood polio. He accepted Bolton's remorse.

He jailed him for 46 months for causing death by careless driving with no separate penalty for drug driving and driving without insurance. He granted an absolute discharge for possession of cannabis and banned Bolton from driving for 72 months.

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