Body found after search Pensioner kills wife after in woodland falling asleep at wheel
Driver had nodded off three times in preceding weeks
A 72-year-old man killed his wife in a head-on collision because he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Pensioner Thomas Whibley, originally from Coxheath but now East Malling, was driving his Peugeot when it hit an oncoming car with a mum and a two-year-old child inside. A judge at Maidstone Crown Court heard how “stubborn” Whibley knew he was suffering from sleep deprivation apnoea but had carried on driving. It was also revealed that he had nodded off at the wheel three times in the weeks before the crash in April last year. Whibley’s wheelchair-bound wife Sylvia, 82, died at the scene in Cranbrook Road, Tenterden - despite a heroic effort to save her by an off-duty firefighter. Duncan Horlock came across the crash and began CPR treatment after Mrs Whibley collapsed in the passenger seat - carrying on even after paramedics arrived.
Judge Phillip Statman commented: “His behaviour was wholly commendable and he did everything he could to assist. He could have done no more.”
Mrs Whibley, who lived with her husband in Temple Way, East Malling, died from her injuries. The driver of a Nissan Qashqai, Claire Brockman, who was travelling with her child, received fractures and spent two days in hospital and six more weeks on crutches. Whibley admitted his dangerous driving caused his wife’s death and Mrs Brockman’s serious injuries and has been jailed for 32 months and banned from driving for life.
The judge told him during sentencing last Thursday: “The fact is you have taken a life and you will live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life.”
Prosecutor Dominic Connolly told how Mrs Brockman was unable to avoid the collision as Whibley drifted into her lane on a “bendy, tight country lane”. When Mrs Brockman saw steam coming from her vehicle, she kicked open the doors and rescued her child - despite suffering a broken hip and a fracture to the bottom of her spine. The child was “very shaken” but escaped with grazes and bruises. The prosecutor said the police investigation revealed Whibley had sought help for sleep apnoea 11 years ago but had not disclosed it when applying for his licence renewal.
Mrs Whibley had been a carer for one of her children who had now had to move to a relative 300 miles away.
An inquest has opened into the death of a man found in woodland near Detling Hill.
The body of James Hindle, 33, was discovered in Scragged Oak Road, near Maidstone, on Thursday, July 9.
Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were at the scene from around 4pm and the road was blocked off.
A specialist search team was also called and search dogs deployed.
Mr Hindle was sadly found dead later that evening, with identification carried out by police, who later confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious.
Coroner Scott Matthewson heard Mr Hindle was a rope access climber from Bognor Regis in west Sussex, at the inquest opening at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone this week. The medical cause of death has not yet been ascertained and the full inquest has been adjourned until September 23.
‘You have taken a life and will live with the consequences for the rest of your life’