Driver was speeding before crash that killed girl

A man whose 17 year-old passenger was killed in a crash in Shropshire may have been travelling as fast as 73mph on a 60mph road.

Sean Cox, 21, of Severn Way in Cressage, Shrewsbury, was sentenced to five years in prison and was banned from driving for eight years and four months on Monday. He had pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing in November.

Cox lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa on the B4376 in Much Wenlock on 28 November 2023.

His passenger Madison Evans was ejected from the car after it hit a tree, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that on the evening of the crash, Cox picked up Madison from her home in Much Wenlock.

Minutes later, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed.

Cox told police and ambulance staff that he had been driving about 65mph on the road, for which the speed limit was 60mph.

However, an investigation found that the speedometer of the car was fixed at 70mph following the crash, and West Mercia Police said it believed that Cox was likely travelling around 73mph.

Roadside tests found that he did not have any alcohol or drugs in his system.

An assessment of the car found that both front tyres were below the legal tread depth requirement, and the road was wet at the time of the incident.

Cox was arrested that day and later charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which he initially denied.

He pleaded guilty in November ahead of the trial starting.

"Cox's reckless actions that evening meant that Madison; a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her, sadly lost her life," said PC Steve Wootton, from the serious collision investigation unit.

"He chose to drive in the manner that he did, knowing his tyres were not in any condition deemed to be legal.

"I would like to commend Madison's family and friends for their patience as we investigated this collision, and I hope yesterday's sentence is able to bring them some form of closure to move forward with their lives."

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