He was sentenced to manslaughter and causing serious injury by dangerous driving
Pierce Whelan aged 35, of Gillet Close, Nuneaton has been sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter and 3 years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following a fatal road traffic collision on the 19th of June 2021.
As he pleaded guilty to the two charges at an earlier hearing the custodial prison sentence was reduced by a third to 14 years. The court directed that a third charge of causing death by dangerous driving will lie on the file.
Inspector Michael Huntley from Warwickshire Police, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The horrific consequences of Pierce Whelan’s actions on 19 June 2021 have been devastating for the family and everyone who knew Nawelle Ormerod. Nawelle leaves a husband and son, who keenly feel their loss and my thoughts remain with them.
"Lives changed forever on that day, including the life of the man who was also hit by Whelan’s car. He received surgery to insert a metal plate and nine screws into the complex fracture on his right arm. These injuries have proven life changing, both physically and mentally.
On the 19th of June 2021 Mr Whelan drove his father’s red Peugeot 406 past Nuneaton Justice Centre along Vicarage Street towards Roanne Ringway in Nuneaton.
Mr Whelan’s vehicle then collided with two pedestrians as they walked across Roanne Ringway by the junction with Coton Road.
He then fled the scene in the vehicle which had sustained a smashed windscreen, requiring Mr Whelan to drive looking out of the driver’s door window.
One of the pedestrians struck by Mr Whelan’s vehicle was a Nuneaton man who at the time of the collision was 26 years old. He was thrown over the vehicle and sustained life-changing injuries. He was initially assisted by two members of the public who witnessed the collision and called the emergency services.
The second pedestrian, Nawelle Ormerod, aged 37 years from Leicestershire, was dragged underneath Mr Whelan’s vehicle for approximately 1km and was found severely injured on Marlborough Road, showing no signs of life. Attending police officers attempted CPR but Mrs Ormerod was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.
Mr Whelan’s abandoned and damaged car was discovered on Clement Street by officers and a short time later he walked to Nuneaton Police Station to hand himself in.
Tests later confirmed the concentration of alcohol in Mr Whelan’s breath was 82 micrograms compared to the legal limit of 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
A saliva test also indicated the presence of cannabis.
Inspector Michael Huntley, said: "Pierce Whelan chose to drink alcohol, putting him at double the drink drive limit and smoke cannabis before getting into his car to drive that night. Associates who had been with him prior to the collision had ordered a taxi and repeatedly advised him not to drive. However, Mr Whelan ignored this advice and sped off in his vehicle prior to the arrival of the taxi.
"The tragic result of Mr Whelan’s actions should serve as a stark reminder to all drivers of the lawful and moral responsibility incumbent on us all when driving.
"Mr Whelan behaved in a totally irresponsible manner in driving whilst unfit and then failing to stop and remain at the scene of the collision, which ultimately led to devasting consequences.
"I would like to thank the members of the public, police officers and colleagues in the West Midlands Ambulance Service who responded on the night of the collision, in what was clearly a very traumatic and complex scene. I would also like to thank all the investigation team, who conducted a detailed and thorough investigation, plus the CPS who prosecuted the case in court.”
Pierce Whelan, aged 35, of Gillet Close, Nuneaton
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