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'Entire world ripped apart': drunk builder jailed for 10 years after killing M23 motorway worker seven seconds after he stepped out of his van

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

Vilius Domarkas, whose blood-alcohol level was three to four times the legal limit when he killed highways worker Anthony Howe on the M23, has been jailed for ten years.
Vilius Domarkas, whose blood-alcohol level was three to four times the legal limit when he killed highways worker Anthony Howe on the M23, has been jailed for ten years.
Anthony Howe, the highways worker killed on the M23, had been outside his vehicle for just seven seconds when Domarkas's van struck him — the door handle still in his grip.
Anthony Howe, the highways worker killed on the M23, had been outside his vehicle for just seven seconds when Domarkas's van struck him — the door handle still in his grip.

Vilius Domarkas, 38, flew into Stansted from Lithuania — where he had been undergoing rehabilitation for alcohol problems — then drove his van into coned-off roadworks on the M23 southbound near Gatwick, killing highways worker Anthony Howe instantly. His blood-alcohol level was three to four times the legal limit; he fell over while speaking to police and rang 999 to report a cracked windscreen without understanding what had caused the damage. Judge Martin Huseyin told Lewes Crown Court that Domarkas had been "zigzagging between lanes" before the 1am crash on July 8; he also received a 16-year, eight-month driving ban.

Howe, 65, from Kent, had exited his vehicle just SEVEN SECONDS before the van hit him — the door handle still in his grip.

His partner Lillian Bonney told the court: 'The defendant made a choice that ruined my happily ever after.'

The van travelled a further 500 metres before coming to rest, the collision damage having triggered an automatic fuel cut-off.

MoreDaily Mail NewsBuilder 'too drunk to stand up' jailed for 10 years after he drove his van into coned-off area of motorway and killed highways workerdailystar.co.ukHighway worker killed as man ploughs van into coned-off roadworks on UK motorwaymylondon.newsM23 driver 'too drunk to stand' killed highways worker
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