Drunk driver who killed two fathers when he tried to weave through lanes to beat the traffic is jailed for 12 years

Published: 16:09, 12 June 2026 | Updated: 16:16, 12 June 2026 A drunk driver who killed two fathers as he tried to weave through traffic has been jailed for 12 years. Nerijus Kuneckis, a 51-year-old Lithuanian national, was driving his Audi Q5 on a busy interchange in Rainham, Essex, when he clipped another vehicle. After the minor collision, Kuneckis lost control of the vehicle causing his car to career through the three lanes of the dual carriageway. His car then went over the crash barrier into the other carriageway where it collided with the front of a Honda Jazz driven by 44-year-old Kalin Hadzhiev.  The Audi flipped over and hit a cement mixer tearing the engine out of the car and sending it flying into another vehicle.  Mr Hadzhiev and Kuneckis' passenger - 38-year-old Laimonas Narvydas - both died at the scene of the collision on 14 February last year. A breath test revealed Kuneckis was over the drink-drive limit for alcohol. And one witness claimed the construction worker was travelling at 'roughly more than 100 mph' moments before the deadly smash. Nerijus Kuneckis (pictured), a 51-year-old Lithuanian national, was driving his Audi Q5 on a busy interchange in Rainham, Essex, when he caused the fatal crash  Pictured: 44-year-old Kalin Hadzhiev who was killed by Kuneckis when his Audi A5 smashed into Mr Hadzhiev's vehicle  Kuneckis, a father to two daughters, appeared at the Old Bailey where he admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, said: 'The footage shows what can only be said to be a shocking and frightening sequence of events arising out of your sustained and serious dangerous driving, ending with your car on the opposite carriageway and the tragic consequences of two deaths. 'Those who saw the incident speak of the fast and erratic nature of your driving. 'Nothing the court can do can ever bring back those who died or make anything right. In seconds the lives of two much-loved individuals were lost.' The judge added that Kuneckis' 'desire to drive' in the way he did showed 'a complete disregard for the safety of others'.  'Whilst you have expressed sorrow, whether this is actual remorse is less clear to me,' he said. The judge also banned Kuneckis from driving for 18 years, after which he must take an extended driving test. Prosecutor Lisa Goddard said: 'Nerijus Kuneckis was driving an Audi Q5 at approximately 4.22pm on Friday 14 February 2025. 'Laimonas Narvydas was his front seat passenger. They were travelling westbound on the A13. 'The Audi had been changing lanes, weaving in and out of traffic, when it then had a minor collision with a BMW 320i, who was also travelling west in lane three of three.' She said that despite the minor collision Kuneckis continued changing lanes before he lost control of the vehicle whilst attempting to change lanes while passing a van.  Jack Clark, driver of the BMW, said he saw the Audi driving 'erratically and too fast' before it hit his car. Dashcam and CCTV footage showed debris flying as the Audi went through the crash barrier before a plume of smoke went up as it collided with the cement mixer. The Audi was left a disintegrated wreck coming to rest on its side. Kuneckis and Mr Narvydas could be seen wearing orange high-vis jackets in the front of the Audi. After the collision Kuneckis was taken to hospital with severe injuries which required surgery. A police officer overheard Kuneckis telling a doctor that he remembered 'driving, driving, driving and then bang' and that he had two shots of alcohol four hours before the incident. Kuneckis, wearing a navy suit, sobbed in the dock as victim impact statements were read to court. In her statement, Mr Hadzhiev's wife Nezire Hadzhieva said: 'I am who I am because my loving husband loved me and always stood by my side.' She added that Mr Hadzhiev was her 'soulmate, best friend, the father of my children, my everything'.  Ms Hadzhieva continued: 'He was my strength when I was weak, always beside me no matter what life brought. His loss has shattered me in a way words can barely describe. 'He called me saying he was coming home and he never did. 'The silence in our home is heavy, painful and endless - his absence is everywhere.' In his victim impact statement Marijus Leiunga, brother to Mr Narvydas' wife, said that after Mr Narvydas' funeral in Lithuania his wife had a mental breakdown. He said this has left their daughter being cared for by their grandmother. Kuneckis had no previous convictions and a clean driving record before the incident. Warwick Aleeson, defending, said: 'Mr Kuneckis has no memory of the crash or the lead up to it so cannot comprehend or understand why he drove in that way that day. 'Mr Narvydas was one of Mr Kuneckis's best friends - they worked together at Laing Construction. 'On 14 February he had asked Mr Narvydas to help him with work on his wife's house. 'He is consumed with guilt that he is responsible for the death of one of his best friends and Mr Hadzhiev.' Kuneckis, of Newham in east London, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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