Aran Potkin: Widow pays tribute to 'absolutely gorgeous' husband as driver who killed him is jailed for nine years
“I wonder what he thought about in those last few moments. I am certain it was our children.”
A widow has paid an emotional tribute to her husband as the man who killed him through his dangerous driving starts a nine-year prison sentence.
Aran Potkin, 40, died at the scene of the accident. A witness described how they had seen a van driving on the inside lane before swerving to the right. Police who arrived at the scene of the collision could not see the van but found it about 800 metres from where the impact happened, with a damaged front and driver Matthew Marston sitting on the roadside barrier.
Marston said he had not realised that he had been involved in a collision and instead thought his engine had exploded.
However, analysis of Marston's phone identified a significant amount of use around the time of the collision and CCTV footage, examination 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 asked how he had been able to unlock and use his phone, including searching on Maps and sending several WhatsApp messages. Police say he responded 'no comment' to all questions. A report was prepared by forensic collision investigators and he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
On Wednesday, December 3, Marston, 41, of North Baddesley in Hampshire, was sentenced to nine years in prison and disqualified from driving for 13 years with an extended retest required. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at a court appearance in October.
Police say 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 12 points on his licence - only avoiding a ban because of the hardship it would have caused him.
Aran, of Farnham, Surrey is survived by his wife Poppy and their two young children, his parents and siblings.
Poppy 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."
The collision happened at 8.55pm on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, on the westbound A31 near Runfold in Surrey. A member of the public saw what happened between Marston’s Renault Trafic van and Aran’s bicycle.
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.”