A man who drank a bottle of vodka before killing a cyclist in a crash on the drive home has been jailed.

Sam Hughes, 32, struck the cyclist on the junction of Chorley New Road and Beaumont Road in Horwich, Bolton, at about 05:00 BST on 5 May 2022.

The 54-year-old died at the scene and Hughes fled, police said.

Hughes had earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was sentenced to six years nine months.

Bolton Crown Court heard he had been visiting friends and CCTV footage showed him buying a bottle of vodka at a nearby petrol station, which he drank at his friend's house in Deane before leaving at about 04:30 in a VW Polo.

At the same time, the victim, cycling south on Victoria Road wearing a high visibility vest, approached the junction.

Hughes, driving his car down Beaumont Road turned right on to Chorley New Road hitting the cyclist before leaving the scene.

The force of the impact caused the front registration plate to break off and become embedded in the bicycle frame, displaying the registration number, Greater Manchester Police said.

Officers found the car in Farnworth, close to Hughes's home address.

When police attended Hughes's home in Daffodil Road, Bolton, he attempted to deceive officers by providing false names and pretending to be someone else.

Officers noted signs of intoxication, including dilated pupils and injuries to his right hand and Hughes was arrested.

Subsequent blood tests conducted while in custody found he had exceeded the legal limits for substances including alcohol, cannabinoids, MDMA, and cocaine.

Hughes chose to answer no comment to all questions during his interview, "showing no remorse for his actions", police said.

But he later admitted his offending.

Sgt Andrew Page said: "Hughes's actions that evening were appalling and sickening.

"Sadly, an innocent member of the community was caught in the crossfire of his actions and now we have lost a life to reckless driving."

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bolton-drink-driver-jailed-killing-092806834.html