Croydon driver jailed for killing highways worker on M23 slip road
Vilius Domarkas pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after collision near Gatwick on 8 July 2026
Incident → evidence → outcomeA Croydon man has pleaded guilty to killing a highways worker after his van veered into a coned-off area on the M23 slip road near Gatwick. Vilius Domarkas, 38, struck the 65-year-old worker on 8 July 2026 while driving a Citroen Relay van. The victim, from Kent, had exited a Ford Transit Dropside when the collision occurred.
Police describe driver’s condition after crash
Sussex Police officers found Domarkas with glazed, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech at the scene. A police spokesperson told MyLondon he was unsteady on his feet and fell over when approached. Domarkas, who has no fixed address, provided a blood sample four hours after the collision.
The sample recorded 221 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit for driving in England is 80 microgrammes. Detective Constable Kelly Newton, of Sussex Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said Domarkas was in no fit state to drive that night.
“This is another tragic example of drink-driving which has had devastating consequences. Domarkas was in no fit state to drive that night, and his own vehicle’s dashcam footage showed him driving erratically prior to the fatal collision.”
Court appearance and next steps
Domarkas appeared at Hove Crown Court on 6 August 2026. He entered a guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving. The court adjourned sentencing until 28 September 2026. No further details of the victim’s identity have been released by police.
Detective Constable Newton said the incident had put other road users at risk. She added that police thoughts remained with the victim’s family. The case will return to Hove Crown Court for sentencing later this month.
Questions this report answers
01What was Vilius Domarkas’s blood alcohol level?
Domarkas’s blood sample showed 221 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, recorded four hours after the collision. The legal limit for driving in England is 80 microgrammes, meaning he was more than twice over the limit.
02When will Vilius Domarkas be sentenced?
Domarkas will be sentenced at Hove Crown Court on 28 September 2026. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving on 6 August 2026, and the court adjourned the case until later this month.
03Where did the collision happen?
The collision occurred on the M23 slip road near Junction 9, south of Gatwick Airport. The victim, a 65-year-old highways worker, was standing in a coned-off area when Domarkas’s van struck him on 8 July 2026.
04Who was the victim?
The victim was a 65-year-old highways worker from Kent. He had exited a Ford Transit Dropside in a coned-off area of the M23 slip road when he was struck by Domarkas’s Citroen van. Police have not released his name.
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