Drug driver jailed for killing mum days after consuming cannabis edibles
Friday, August 14, 2026
A man has been jailed after his drug driving killed a mum on a pedestrian crossing.
On 24th October 2024, Himabindu Yadla was on her way to work at a nursing home. She had travelled on the bus, getting off at Tramway Lane, Bamber Bridge where she began to cross the road.
On 24th October 2024, Jake Bolton (pictured below) was also on his way to work. He was driving his Audi S3, and had consumed cannabis edibles the weekend before.
It was early evening, the weather was dry and it was a clear night, with the sun having not fully set.
Bolton collided with Himabindu when she was 3 meters in to crossing the carriageway. She suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where she sadly died 18 days later.
Bolton stopped at the scene and called 999, asking for an ambulance. He told the call handler ‘I’ve just run someone over, she was just stood in the middle of the road.’
Our officers attended, and Bolton provided a positive drug wipe for both cannabis and cocaine.
We also found a quantity of cannabis bush hidden within a first aid box in Bolton’s boot of his car.
He was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, and was taken to custody where he undertook further tests.
The blood specemin taken from Bolton in custody later showed that he was over the legal limit.
Following a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Bolton, 36, of of Lulworth Place, Walton-Le-Dale, Preston, was charged with causing death by driving without due care whilst unfit through drugs, causing death by driving a vehicle when uninsured and posession of a controlled drug.
He pleaded guilty and appeared back in the dock yesterday where he was sentenced to three years and 10 months. He was banned from driving for six years and four months and must pass an extended driving test before he can regain his license.
In a Victim Impact Statement read to the court, Himabindu’s (pictured below) brother said: “The 18 days between the collision and Bindu’s death were the most traumatic days of our lives.
“We watched her suffer on life support with no hope of recovery, and we were forced to make the unbearable decision to withdraw life support. No family should ever have to make such a decision, and the emotional damage from those days will stay with us forever.”
He continued: “The impact of this tragedy remains most acute for Bindu’s eight-year-old daughter. As she grows older, she will continue to live with the emotional consequences of losing her mother in such tragic circumstances. This is a trauma that will remain with her throughout her life, marking every milestone her schooling, her birthdays, and her personal growth with the absence of the mother who was meant to be by her side.”
Towards the end of his statement, Himabindu’s brother talked of Bolton’s actions leading to her death: “What makes this even more painful is knowing that her death was entirely avoidable. The fact that she was killed by someone driving dangerously while under the influence of drugs adds a level of cruelty that is impossible to put into words.
“Although the guilty plea acknowledges responsibility for what happened, it cannot undo the lasting damage caused to our family. We are left trying to rebuild our lives around an absence that can never be replaced, and we hope the court’s sentencing reflects the full gravity of the defendant's choices and the scale of the destruction caused to our lives.”
DS Joe Ghigi of Lancashire Police said: “Himabindu was a mum who was simply on her way to work when she was killed by Bolton’s dangerous drug driving. Her little girl now has to grow up without her because of his actions.
“A series of choices made by Bolton led to Himabindu’s death. He chose to consume the cannabis edibles the weekend before. He chose to get in his car in the days after. He chose to drive his car under the influence of drugs.
“We often talk about the dangers of drug driving and are met with resistance, but this just goes to show how long those illegal substances stay in your system and how they can take a life, and ruin the lives of others, including children.
“Drug driving is illegal for a reason – because it is dangerous, and because it costs lives. Himabindu should have been able to cross the road and make her way to work caring for others without having her life taken by a drug driver.
“We aren’t spoiling your fun, we are making every effort to save lives. If you are someone who thinks it is ok to drive under the influence of drugs, no matter how long ago you took them, I want you to think of Himabindu, whose life was taken, I want you to think of her little girl, whose childhood has been changed in an instant, and I want you to think of Jake Bolton, whose careless decision cost and changed those lives, and changed his own, all for the sake of a cannabis edible.”
If you know someone who drug drives, please do the responsible thing and make a report to us.
You can make a report to us on 101 or in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing, call 999.
