A ‘HEAVILY intoxicated’ driver has been jailed after a fatal crash that killed a man in Arborfield.

Bridgette Rooney, aged 38, of Eversley Road, Arborfield, was sentenced to five years and nine months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for seven years and 10 months in a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Friday, July 14.

She will also have to take an extended re-test at the end of her disqualification.

On July 26, 2021, there was a collision on the A327 Reading Road, Arborfield, where a VW Golf, being driven by Rooney, collided with a Peugeot, which was being driven by Kieron Johnson.

Rooney was heavily intoxicated by a combination of drugs and alcohol when she crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with the car being driven by Kieron.

The collision resulted in Kieron receiving serious injuries, and he was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where tragically he lost his life.

Rooney was also taken to hospital and a sample of blood was taken, which was later analysed and found to contain a mixture of alcohol, cocaine and prescription medication.

Following an investigation, Rooney was charged on November, 15 2022.

Investigating officer detective constable, Mark Dunne, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit has paid tribute to Kieron's family: “I would firstly like to pay tribute to Kieron’s family and friends, who have shown tremendous patience while we investigated the tragic circumstances that led to his death.

“Rooney chose to drive a motor vehicle while heavily intoxicated through both alcohol and drugs, and the result of her actions were a tragic and needless loss of life."

Talking about the case, detective constable Dunne added: “Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is one of the Fatal Four, and this tragic case shows the consequences that can occur if you take that decision.

“Rooney will now serve a custodial sentence as a result of her actions, and although I know that no sentence will serve as solace to Kieron’s family, I hope that they are able to move on with their lives in the knowledge that she has been brought to justice.”