THERE is "insufficient evidence" to prosecute a man with causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash, prosecutors have ruled.

Daniel Clark was jailed for six months last week after admitting one count of dangerous driving, relating to the minutes he spent behind the wheel of his wrecked Peugeot 106 after the crash.

The collision, in Christchurch Road in the early hours of May 9 last year, resulted in the death of Fiona Welcome, a 42-year-old Bournemouth woman who was crossing the road on foot near Boscombe Chine Gardens at the time.

In March, Judge Peter Crabtree OBE at Bournemouth Crown Court ordered a review by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) into the charges faced by Clark, 26.

At that hearing, the court heard Clark's evidence was that his passenger, Sam Jones, had grabbed the steering wheel in the moments before the crash.

Mr Jones was said to have little recollection of the incident as he was drunk.

However collision investigators found no evidence to support the account of the driver, the court heard.

After the review the CPS concluded that there was not enough evidence to charge Clark, of Vancouver Road in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

A spokesman said: "Several lawyers carefully considered all the available evidence in the case and following a further review by Kate Brown, CPS Wessex Chief Crown Prosecutor, it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr Clark with either an offence of causing death by dangerous or death by careless driving.

"Ms Brown took into consideration all the available evidence, including the report from a Dorset Police forensic collision investigator and the expertise of the head of Dorset Police road death unit.

"She then concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Daniel Clark’s driving was responsible for the death of Ms Welcome.

"The family of Ms Welcome was told of our decision, which was made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors."

The sentencing hearing last week heard Clark and Mr Jones had gone on to a party after the crash, abandoning the car in Boscombe Overcliff Drive. The court was also shown CCTV which showed the car continuing along the road immediately after the crash, but not the point of impact.

Clark admitted failing to stop at the scene of the crash however was not charged with the related offence within the required time limit.

An inquest into Ms Welcome's death has been opened and adjourned while criminal proceedings were active.