Drink driver jailed for nearly 10 years after killing taxi driver and injuring passenger in crash near Cannock

A drink driver who killed a taxi driver and left a passenger seriously injured in a head-on collision near Cannock has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

Joshua Stack, 25, of Stafford, was over the legal drink-drive limit when his Vauxhall Corsa veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a Toyota Avensis taxi in January 2024.

The crash claimed the life of 50-year-old taxi driver Sajid Ali, from Walsall, while a passenger in his 20s suffered serious injuries.

Stack had been drinking at a sports venue in the area before getting behind the wheel on the evening of the collision.

He was travelling along the B5012 from Penkridge towards Cannock when he crossed a bridge, veered into the opposite carriageway and struck the oncoming taxi.

Mr Ali suffered fatal injuries while his passenger, who had been sitting in the back of the vehicle, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

The passenger was discharged from hospital but continues to recover from the collision.

Stack also suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital before being brought into police custody.

A blood sample taken following the crash confirmed he had been driving while over the legal alcohol limit.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving just days before he was due to stand trial.

Appearing at Stafford Crown Court on Friday (October 30) Stack was sentenced to nine years and six months behind bars.

He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and nine months and ordered to take an extended driving test before being allowed back on the roads.

DC Jim Addison, from Staffordshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Drink driving can devastate lives in an instant, as we have seen again in this tragic collision.

"Stack’s actions that day have taken away someone from their family forever and caused significant emotional and physical distress to another.

"I'm pleased that we have been able to build all of the evidence needed to make sure he is brought to justice."