Joshua Stack, 25, of Stafford, was jailed for nine years and six months at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 30 October 2026. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The man who died was taxi driver Sajid Ali.
The collision
Staffordshire Police reported that Stack got into his Vauxhall Corsa in January 2024 after drinking at a sports venue in the area, and was over the limit when he drove that evening. He was travelling on the B5012 from Penkridge towards Cannock when he went over a bridge, veered into the oncoming lane and collided with a Toyota Avensis taxi.
Ali, 50, from Walsall, died from his injuries. A man in his 20s, travelling in the back seat, was seriously injured and taken to hospital. He was later discharged and continues to recover. Stack was taken to hospital with serious injuries of his own. A blood sample showed he was over the drink-drive limit.
The sentence
The pleas came days before a trial was due to start. The court disqualified Stack from driving for seven years and nine months and ordered an extended re-test.
DC Jim Addison, of the 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 has 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."