Driver jailed over fatal water treatment tank crash

A drink-driver who killed his friend in a crash after leaving a house party has been jailed for eight years.

Jamie Bouncer, 22, who did not have a full driving licence, lost control of the VW Golf and crashed through a fence before the car landed in a disused water treatment tank.

Taylor Lupton, 18, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene, while a 21-year-old who was also in the car was seriously injured.

Bouncer admitted causing Lupton's death by dangerous driving and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court earlier.

The court was told those in the car had been at a party in Castleford after leaving a nightclub when Bouncer decided to borrow the Golf, which belonged to the injured passenger, on 12 January last year.

The provisional licence holder lost control on Wheldon Road just minutes later and ended up in the Yorkshire Water compound.

The court heard the crash happened in the early hours of the morning in freezing and wet conditions.

Investigators believe that Bouncer was driving in excess of the 30mph speed limit for the road.

Lupton's girlfriend, Megan Carswell, was pregnant with his second child when he died.

She said: "I live with a constant sense of numbness, fear, and disbelief. I still cannot fully process that he is gone and not coming back.

"Our son will never get chance to meet his daddy, and Taylor will never get chance to meet his son.

"What hurts even more is that Taylor never even got the chance to know that I was carrying his baby boy. I found out I was pregnant 10 days after he died.

"Taylor also has a daughter who was 11 months old at the time he was killed. He was meant to see her the day he died. She still looks at photos of him.

"Taylor's future was stolen from him. His chance to watch both his daughter and son grow up was taken away by the defendant. This loss is permanent and will follow me and his children for the rest of our lives."

Lupton's mother, Gemma Mason, added that her "world came crashing down" when her son died.

Bouncer, of Hall Street, Pontefract, pleaded guilty to causing death by drink driving, while driving uninsured and while driving without a full licence.

He was banned from driving for 10 years and must taken an extended retest.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Sgt Paul Lightowler of West Yorkshire Police said: "Bouncer got behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol.

"He wasn't qualified or insured to drive that car and took it for a drive at excessive speed in wet and freezing conditions.

"This was a completely avoidable tragedy.

"A young life has been lost because someone chose to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Our thoughts are with Taylor's family, and we urge everyone to understand that getting behind the wheel after drinking carries devastating consequences."

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