‘It was the end of Aran’s life and the worst day of ours’

A man has been jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision in Farnham in October 2023.

Officers were called at 8.55pm on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, to the A31 westbound, Runfold by a member of the public who had witnessed a collision between a white Renault Trafic van and a cyclist.

Tragically, 40-year-old Aran Potkin from Farnham died at the scene.

A witness described how they had seen the van driving on the inside lane before swerving to the right. Officers attending the scene could not see the van but located it approximately 800 metres from the collision with damage to the front and the driver Matthew Marston sitting on the roadside barrier.

Marston said he was unaware that he had been involved in a collision and instead thought his engine had exploded.

Work on Marston's phone identified a significant amount of use around the time of the collision.

CCTV footage, analysis of the collision site and a reconstruction of the road also showed Aran would have been visible for up to 200 metres due to hi-visibility clothing and lights.

In police interviews, Marston was given the opportunity to explain how he had been able to unlock and use his phone, including searching on Maps and sending several WhatsApp messages. He responded 'no comment' to all questions.

A substantial report was prepared by our Forensic Collision Investigators and he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

On Monday, 6 October, Matthew Marston, 41 (09/08/1984) of North Baddesley, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

At Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 3 December, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for 13 years with an extended retest required.

An aggravating factor in Marston’s sentence was his previous driving endorsements, including six penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving. At the time of the collision, he had accrued 12 points on his licence, avoiding a ban due to the risk of potential hardship.

Investigating Officer Charley Spriegel from Surrey Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “My thoughts are with the family of Aran Potkin, who have been left heartbroken by this avoidable tragedy. They have remained so incredibly dignified throughout the police investigation and court hearings. Today’s outcome will not change the fact that Aran’s life was cut so unfairly short.

"This should serve as a harrowing reminder to everyone who drives on our roads, that using a mobile phone behind the wheel can have horrific consequences. You may think it will never happen to you, but the stark reality is that you could be the reason why a family is mourning the loss of a husband, father, son and brother.”

Aran is survived by his wife and their two young children, his parents and siblings.

Doug and Gilly, Aran's parents said: "Aran’s death has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled, we can only draw comfort from the years we had with him and reflect on his achievement, love for us and his family.

"No parent should ever have to attend their own child’s funeral or see the unbelievable sorrow that it has bought to his wife, and their two children, his brother and friends. This tragedy, which has impacted so many, could have been so easily avoidable.

"We can’t bring Aran back, but we pray that his death will be reflected on by society and the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving.

"Quite simply, if you pick a mobile phone up when driving, think on and try and place yourself in our shoes, and the devastating consequences of what can happen and the lives that it affects."

Aran's wife said: "For two years now I have felt intensely home sick, a feeling I know my children share too. I've realised that the 'home' we miss isn't a place, it's a person. It's Aran.

"The evening the police knocked at the door to tell me Aran had been killed, a version of us who were left behind died that night too. It was end of Aran's life and the worst day of ours.

"Aran was incredibly smart, challenging and absolutely gorgeous. He was caring and fun. He didn't have an ounce of arrogance about him. Happy to be laughed at, happy to lend a hand, happy just to make others happy. He was a natural sportsman who never met his true calling as a professional athlete - perhaps because he lacked the arrogance that so often goes hand-in-hand with that level of success.

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about how hard he must have tried to stay alive. I wonder what he thought about in those last few moments. I am certain it was our children.

"I'd also like to thank Andy (our Family Liaison Officer), Charley and all the police involved in this case from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your diligence, hard work, commitment, your patience and consideration with us as a grieving family. You never met Aran, yet I feel like you knew him. Thank you for treating him not just as a case, but as a person. The full of life dad, son, husband, big brother and uncle that he was."

Aran Potkin

Matthew MARSTON