A man has been sentenced after driving wrong way down the A30 near Old Basing and causing the death of another motorist, Neil Colquhoun (pictured).
Dr Turner Waddell, aged 90, was heading in the wrong direction when his Volvo collided head on with a Vauxhall Vectra on the evening of Friday, March 11, 2011.
28-year-old Neil Colquhoun was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dr Waddell and his wife, who was a passenger in the vehicle, were both treated in hospital for serious injuries. He was later arrested and reported for summons to court in connection with the collision.
Investigating officer Sergeant Rob Heard from Hampshire Constabulary's Road Death Investigation team said: "Our thoughts are with Neil's family at this time. He was travelling home to Hook having spent time with friends after work when the collision happened.
"Dr Waddell was heading towards Basingstoke from his then home in Andover when for some reason he took a wrong turn onto the A30. After heading nearly a mile in the wrong direction down the dual carriageway, being flashed by other vehicles, his Volvo collided head on with Neil's Vauxhall which then caught fire.
"Neil was treated at the scene by ambulance crews but sadly died as a result of his injuries. We conducted a thorough investigation and our enquiries found he had no way of avoiding the collision and was in no way to blame.
"As far as we are concerned, Dr Waddell had defective eyesight and he was not fit to be driving on the road. He will now have to live with the consequences of his actions."
'Take responsibility'
Sgt Heard continued: "As the law stands, there is currently no requirement for people to re-take their driving test or to have their licence reviewed by virtue of their age alone.
"I would always encourage drivers of whatever age, however, to ensure that they are medically fit enough to drive on the road safely.
"I would urge everyone, drivers, their families and medical professionals, to take responsibility to highlight these problems and take positive action as early as possible in the hope that we can avoid anyone else being killed or seriously injured on our roads."
Dr Turner Waddell, of Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl, earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was today (Friday, August 10) sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to nine months in prison suspended for two years and disqualified from driving for life.