A drunk-driving paramedic has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Robert Woodruff, 36, got behind the wheel after drinking too much because he was determined to make it to a barbecue at the home of a female paramedic seven miles away despite not being invited.
Before the deadly crash on June 26 of last year, the drunk driver, a paramedic since 2014, frequently checked his phone for messages in a “monumental lack of judgement.”
Father-of-five The 56-year-old victim of the “devastating” accident, Richard Goodwin passed away at the scene close to the East Yorkshire village of Ottringham after suffering terrible injuries.
Before his body was discovered in vegetation, the property developer and former bank manager was transported 70 metres on the car’s bonnet, according to testimony given in court.
After initially disobeying his wife’s wishes to not drive home, a roadside breath test later indicated that Woodruff had consumed more than twice the legal limit for driving under the influence.
After entering a guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving on Wednesday at Hull Crown Court, he was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.
Additionally, Woodruff of Withernsea received a seven year, eight month driving restriction.
Mr. Goodwin had been cycling on the A1033 at Ottringham, according to prosecutor Jeremy Evans.
While this was going on, Woodruff had spent the afternoon drinking in Withernsea’s Pier Hotel, Spread Eagle, and Butterfly Inn pubs.
But after trying in vain to hail a taxi, he disregarded his wife’s cries and avoided her attempts to stop him.
Instead, the paramedic made his way around the block to his parked red Nissan Juke SUV and left around 8.45 p.m.
Prior to Woodruff tailgating another car while travelling at 80 mph, Mr. Goodwin was cycling in the opposite way.
One witness testified in court that the driver was acting “like an idiot” behind the wheel before slowly veering onto the wrong side of the road and striking a cyclist, apparently without applying the brakes.
When the collision happened, there was a “loud bang,” and Mr. Goodwin was propelled for around 70 metres along the Nissan’s glass.
The vehicle continued into a verge, took off, cleared a water culvert, and finally careered past brush and a cycle path before slamming into a nearby cottage’s front garden.
The body of Mr. Goodwin was discovered in the brush.
According to Mr. Evans, “those in attendance and the police could see there was no trace of life.”
After the collision, Woodruff was confused and drowsy, and he also smelled strongly of alcohol.
I f****d up, he admitted to the police. This time, I really f***ed up. I’m a complete wreck. I lowered my hand to check my phone.
I was on the road to visit my girlfriend. I veered.
He had 77mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is more than double the legal limit of 35mcg, according to a second roadside breath test.
Nearly three hours later, a blood test revealed that there was 172 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, which is again more than double the 80 mg legal limit.
“I felt like I was in control,” said Woodruff. I had no idea what I was doing was risky.
I don’t think I was doing anything hazardous on the road.
He had a “impeccable record” and had been a paramedic since 2014, during which time he had never had any problems while operating an ambulance.
He also had advanced and blue-light driver credentials.
After the accident, Woodruff’s employment as a paramedic was terminated; nevertheless, he found another career as a delivery driver.
At yesterday’s sentencing hearing, a victim impact statement was made by Mr. Goodwin’s children.
They claimed to have had “unbearable sorrow and grief,” which included nightmares and trouble falling asleep.
Oliver, his youngest child, testified in court that these recent months had been the most difficult in his life.
His “best buddy,” his father, never failed to make him smile and make him feel secure.
My Dad loved me and all of my siblings, Oliver continued. It has had a profound impact on me in a variety of ways.
As I lay in bed, I consider how my father must have felt. In my dreams, dad appears to be still alive.
Despite the fact that I know he will never respond, I still text him.
Samuel, the eldest child of Mr. Goodwin, stated, “My Dad was the life and soul of my family, someone we could all depend on.
“Five children who adored him but never had the opportunity to say farewell.” These emotional scars will be with us for the rest of our lives.
He continued by saying that his life has been impacted “in so many different ways” and that he still gets dreams about his father.
Samuel also mentioned how he continues to email his deceased father despite knowing that he would never respond and how the death “has changed him forever.”
Woodruff’s attorney, Charlotte Baines, stated in mitigation that he acknowledged making “unforgivable mistakes” and expressed regret for ruining families through his “idiocy” and its “devastating” and “catastrophic” consequences.
Woodruff, who was hurt in the collision as well, lamented: “I’ve lost my dream job.” I apologise for my dishonourable behaviour.
I have accepted full responsibility for my actions.
He expressed his hope that other drivers would be “eye-opened” by the occurrence.
Miss Baines stated that Woodruff had not downplayed what he had done, adding that he would never be able to make up for his self-centered and careless deeds, which had tragic results.
He has done harm that he is aware cannot be undone. He made a colossal error in judgement, to put it mildly.
This defendant’s behaviour is fully and completely out of character for him.
Until June 26 of last year, he had made it his mission to save lives rather than take or end them. He has utterly betrayed the people he previously represented.
Before becoming a paramedic, Woodruff, a divorced father of two, worked as a lifeguard.
Judge Mark Bury stated of Mr. Goodwin: “He had accomplished a tremendous deal in his life, both professionally and domestically.”
If he had survived, he would have continued to succeed in whatever he chose to do with his life.
He sincerely loved his family and was devoted to them. The vacuum created by Richard’s passing in his family’s lives will never be replaced.
Because of the passing of their father, they have endured enormous suffering.
He concluded by saying: “I think you will always bear the guilt of your dreadful conduct.”
Although you should have to carry it, it is nothing compared to the burdens carried by others.
You made a sharp turn across the street right into the path of Richard Goodwin, a skilled biker. Both his position and outfit on the route were appropriate.
You failed to even notice him. The consequences of that incident were brutally disastrous.
“From your perspective, this is a catastrophe.” You are a good person overall, other from this.
You have committed yourself to preserving life rather than destroying it.
Woodruff was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, a seven years and eight months driving prohibition, and an extended retest before he can get behind the wheel once he is released.
Words cannot express the utter destruction and anguish this defendant has given to the Goodwin family, Mr. Evans said during the sentencing.
Woodruff was a certified emergency response driver and active paramedic.
The actions he took that day were so incredibly careless that they beyond explanation.
It is also difficult to envision a more total betrayal of the principles of his paramedic profession.
Our thoughts are with the whole Goodwin family, and we hope that they may find some solace in the words Woodruff is starting to say in the weeks, months, and years to come. We continue to think of them.