Maidstone man killed in fatal crash between Wateringbury and East Malling took cocaine before collision

A boxer had taken cocaine hours before he was involved in a fatal crash.

After the horror smash in October last year, it was originally thought Tommy Dunn, from Maidstone, was the passenger of a silver Vauxhall Astra and the driver had made off.

However, after months of investigation, an inquest heard how it was 32-year-old Tommy who was driving the car when it crashed in Wateringbury Road, heading towards East Malling at around 7.45am on October 27.

Mr Dunn, who was described as a loving uncle, brother and son, died at the scene from his injuries after his Astra hit a kerb before “losing control,” veering across the road into an oncoming Land Rover.

His cause of death was given as blunt force trauma to the head, chest, and pelvis.

DS Christopher Wade gave evidence at the hearing in Oakwood House in Maidstone and said when speaking to Mr Dunn’s partner at the time she had said the boxer “had taken eight lines of cocaine” and left the property at 6.30am without much sleep.

DS Wade recalled evidence from witnesses, including the driver of the Land Rover involved in the crash, who said the Astra was going “very fast and was completely out of control”.

Another person said the car seemed to lose control on a bend.

Police were originally under the impression a second person, possibly the driver of the Astra, was involved as when witnesses arrived to help they described Mr Dunn being in the passenger side of the car.

However, Mr Dunn had actually been pushed to the other side of the vehicle as he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. Dogs and drones with thermal imaging were used to try and find a second person but nobody was found.

Forensic collision investigator Simon Masterson was called to the scene to analyse it and find out what had happened.

He told the court he had covered more than 160 serious crashes in the county and that the toxicology report for Mr Dunn showed the highest level of cocaine he’s ever seen in a driver.

PC Masterson said data taken from Mr Dunn’s phone showed he had been using it in the “minutes or seconds” before the crash.

He said there was evidence in the form of marks that the tyres had hit the curb and Mr Dunn had tried to get control back of the car, adding: “It is possible Mr Dunn was in the process of regaining control when the collision occurred.”

Mr Dunn’s mother attended the hearing alongside other family members and said her son “always had a smile on his face and was happy”.

The coroner concluded the death was a drug-related road traffic collision.

Mr Dunn was a keen boxer and trained at TKO Maidstone in St Peter’s Street with Al Stevens, who said: “He had overcome his demons, and had been doing great for year since he came to us at TKO. He was loved by everyone at the gym as he helped everyone from the youngest to the oldest.

“Boxing was a real help for him and helped keep him healthy and positive, we helped him outside of the gym just as much as inside the gym.

“His death has affected everyone. As I said, everyone loved him. He had time for everyone.”

Speaking after his death, his sister Sammy-jo Dunn said: “My big brother I love you with all my heart. You was not only my brother, you was my father my best friend.

“The best uncle that any little sister would wish for. My heart hurts so much, it don’t seem real. You was just here eating dinner with Ronnie last night and taking my girl boxing today.

“You was the main person in mine and my children’s lives. It don’t sit right with me, I won’t ever believe it.

“We were so close my Tom. I’m so proud of you. You always are the one to tell me I’m a good mum and you’re proud of me, and I promise to keep making you proud.

“My boy will be the boxer you want him to be. I promise we are going to make you so proud. I can’t believe you’ve left me. I love you with all my heart.”