Teen driver who killed friends after inhaling laughing gas at the wheel jailed
A teenage driver who was filmed inhaling laughing gas moments before crashing into a tree, killing three teenage passengers, has been jailed.
Thomas Johnson, 19, was speeding along the A415 in Oxfordshire at 100mph when he crashed, killing his friends David Hancock, 18, Ethan Goddard, 18, and Elliot Pulllen, 17, in June 2023.
Moments before the fatal crash, footage shot inside the BMW 3 series shows the four boys laughing and passing canisters and balloons to the front seats while Johnson can be seen inhaling.
The vehicle’s wheels were also heard screeching as Johnson whizzes around a bend.
In CCTV footage released by police, the vehicle, which officers say had its electronic stability deliberately switched off, was caught overtaking another car at 100mph in a 30mph zone.
Johnson, who admitted taking nitrous oxide while driving, exceeding speed limits and causing the deaths of the other passengers, was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison by Judge Emma Nott.
The judge said his actions were ‘all for teenage thrills’ and he would be ‘forever defined’ by his ‘teenage mistakes.’
Johnson said he had no recollection of what happened, and claims to have only taken nitrous oxide on one previous occasion.
He claimed: ‘I remember doing it once last year with a group of friends before I could even drive but I don’t have any recollection after that.
‘It made my head feel dizzy.’
A joint statement from the families of the three boys who died read: ‘No amount of imprisonment will bring our sons back home and we take little comfort in the sentencing of someone else’s son.
‘However, we do hope that this will serve as a deterrent to other drivers, especially young men.
‘If just one person adjusts their attitude to driving, or one person thinks twice about being a passenger along for the ride then there is hope that something good can come out of this tragedy.’
The three families also remembered their loved ones separately.
Elliot Pullen’s parents, who ‘have been living a permanent nightmare,’ said they have been ‘sucked into a world of grief, sadness and pain.’
The family of ‘fun, loving, kind and generous’ Ethan Goddard told of how the 18-year-old was ‘loved so very much and made his family so proud.’
And the ‘truly loved’ Daniel Hancock was remembered by his parents as ‘generous, caring and selfless.’
The Hancocks also issued a warning to other young drivers after their boy died just three miles from the family home.
They said: ‘Daniel died three miles from home in a completely avoidable crash.
‘Please don’t be that driver who shows such disregard for their friends’ lives.’
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