Dangerous driver who killed dad-to-be on M6 has sentence extended

Chris Smith, 41, was driving on the M6 at Thelwall Viaduct when John Yates smashed into him after hitting speeds of around 128mph.

Yates, from no fixed abode, but of north Wales, who was under the influence of drugs, fled the scene by jumping over a barrier immediately after the incident.

The 28-year-old appeared before Chester Crown Court on January 20 after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis, and he was jailed for eight years and three months.

However, following a ruling of the Court of Appeal, that original prison term has been quashed.

He will now serve 11 years and three months after the initial sentence was deemed unduly lenient.

The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said: “John Frazer Yates was travelling at dangerously excessive speeds, and through his reckless actions caused the tragic death of another motorist.

“The offence was aggravated by him callously fleeing the scene not thinking he would be picked up by the CCTV cameras.

“I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to Christopher Smith’s family and I welcome the court’s decision to extend Yates’ sentence in what were truly tragic circumstances.”

Yates was also banned from driving for 12-and-a-half years.

Speaking after Yates’ sentencing, Chris’ partner Mandy McKechnie, aged 39 and from Sutton, who at the time was awaiting the birth of their son, said: “He may have killed Chris, but he gave me a life sentence by driving that way that day.

“Our unborn son has already got irreparable damage because he will grow up without the daddy he stole from him, not because of an accident, but because he was on drugs and driving at top speeds.

“It is an insult and a disgrace that Chris has not been given justice, this is injustice.

“All Chris and I did was choose our son’s name. He missed out on scans, buying prams and decorating the nursery, all because of that man that day.

“With Chris’ family, I hope to get more information on how we help get Chris the justice he deserves, because eight years is not enough.”

‘Violet’s Law’ refers to Violet-Grace Youens, from Eccleston in St Helens, who was struck by a speeding car in March 2017.

Her parents, disgusted at the short sentence the killer driver received, led a successful online petition which led to 167,000 signatures and a parliamentary debate to up the maximum sentence for those found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving from 15 years to life imprisonment.

Violet-Grace Youens

This law change was passed in June 2022, giving hope to loved ones of victims who were killed by dangerous drivers in incidents after that June date, from when the law change would apply.