Mum-of-five on heroin killed herself and another driver in horror crash on A16

08 November 2023 , 11:33

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Mikah Chandler was killed in the car crash this year (Image: Facebook)

A mum took a near fatal amount of heroin before driving into the path of a van, killing herself and the other driver, an inquest heard.

Mikah Chandler, 45, had no driving licence or insurance and was driving her boyfriend's BMW towards Grimsby on April 24 when she hit Graham Ross, 34. Dashcam footage of the crash from Mr Ross' grey Ford van showed the BMW pulling out from behind another car into the path of the van. A forensic collision investigation report found Mr Ross had one second to avoid the collision. A toxicology report revealed Ms Chandler had "a potentially fatal amount of heroin in her system”.

Van driver Graham Ross was killed in the tragedy (Handout)

Lincolnshire coroner, Paul Cooper said there was also cocaine, pregabalin and diazepam in her blood, GrimsbyLive reported. PC Tristan Hudson, of Lincolnshire Police said witnesses had seen the BMW swerving to overtake other vehicles. Dashcam footage and marks caused by the impact of the crash showed Mr Ross had 1.1 seconds to react.

A father driving his daughter to school at Utterby told how he saw the BMW veer into the verge of the A16 earlier, narrowly missing two men in hi-vis vests. The BMW was also driven right up to his bumper. He said: "I thought I was going to feel a nudge. I was concerned the driver was going to kill someone because the driving was so careless and dangerous.”

A lorry driver also told how he had to take avoiding action when the BMW cut him up after overtaking. He saw another car driver have to brake to avoid the BMW on a roundabout on the A16 at Louth. PC Hudson said both the BMW and the Ford van were being driven within the 60mph speed limit.

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Ms Chandler's mum, Lesley Cartwright said the BMW's owner was a boyfriend of Ms Chandler and he believed she had a driving licence. He gave her the car keys and was arranging insurance around that time. She said: "If he had known she did not have a licence, he would never have given her the keys."

The coroner said Ms Chandler, a mother of five, had received several treatments with support group We Are With You, formerly AddAction, in Grimsby due to anxiety, bi-polar and psychotic episodes. In February she had failed to attend an appointment with a recovery worker and had disengaged with mental health agency, Navigo. Mr Cooper added: “It is a tragedy this happened. All those substances should not have been in her system as she drove. Mr Ross was the most unlucky man on this road in the wrong place at the wrong time on this day."

Antony Thrower