A 43-year-old man from Shoeburyness was convicted on February 12, 2026, for causing the death of a mother-of-two in a road crash in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Jurors at Basildon Crown Court found Lee Rance guilty of causing the death of 37-year-old Carly Hicks by dangerous driving following a fatal collision in 2025. Rance was also found guilty of driving while disqualified and being over the legal drug-drive limit for cocaine.
According to Essex Police, the crash happened at approximately 11:30 PM on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on Royal Artillery Way. Rance was driving a Mini Cooper when he lost control of the car and struck a tree. Detective Sergeant Sam Nason noted that Rance’s refusal to admit guilt forced the family of the victim to endure a full trial featuring body-worn rescue footage from the scene.
During a search of the vehicle, officers found heroin and cocaine which led to a conviction for possession of drugs with the intent to supply. A Glock 17 CO2 pistol was also discovered in a carrier bag behind the driver’s seat. Because Rance was already a prohibited person due to his criminal record, this discovery resulted in an additional conviction for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The court heard that Rance has an extensive criminal history with more than 140 previous convictions on his record. Following the incident in 2025, local residents left floral tributes for Carly Hicks at the crash site on Royal Artillery Way. Rance has been held in custody since the verdict was delivered and is due to return to court to receive his sentence in April 2026.
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