The reckless moment driver inhaled laughing gas and pumped his fist to music before crash ‘wiped out’ life of girl, 15

Pumping his fist along to music, using his phone, and inhaling laughing gas from a bright yellow balloon. These were the reckless actions of Cameron Hughes, caught on camera by 15-year-old passenger Bonney-Rae Barrow. Blackley[1] delivery driver Hughes, 24, was giving family friend Bonney a lift to see her relatives at a meal in Lancashire[2].

Video footage shows Hughes paying little attention to the road. In one clip, he is seen facing Bonney with the nitrous oxide balloon held to his mouth, while his other hand is also off the wheel. The journey from Manchester to Great Harwood would end in tragedy.

Hughes failed to negotiate a left-hand bend on the slip road of the A56 at Huncoat. His Mercedes Sprinter van plunged five metres into the ravine below, with the devastating moment of impact caught on camera. Bonney, also from Blackley, suffered serious injuries.

She died the following day in Wythenshawe Hospital[5].

Hughes was thrown from the vehicle and suffered minor injuries. Lancashire Police says that, during the 35-minute journey, there were numerous close calls with other vehicles. On occasions, Hughes was driving into the hard shoulder, straddling between lanes and in once instance, his van bounced off a kerb at the edge of the carriageway while being driven at more than 60mph.

Preston Crown Court heard the van was being driven at 'inappropriate speed'[6] as it approached the junction at 7.20pm on July 7. Bonney was thrown towards the windscreen following the crash. Neither Bonney nor Hughes wore a seatbelt.

Hughes, of Haddington Drive, Blackley, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison today (October 30).

He was also banned from driving for eight years. Judge Heather Lloyd told Hughes: "This was quite a shocking piece of driving and a young 15-year-old life has been needlessly wiped out. "It is a miracle that no other person was wiped out, including yourself.

This was a tragedy waiting to happen." Following the sentencing, Sergeant Laura Kendall, from Lancashire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Bonney was a much-loved bubbly teenager whose life has been cruelly taken away. My heart goes out to her family and friends who have been so affected by her tragic loss.

"Cameron Hughes is entirely responsible for what happened that day in July.

He chose to take nitrous oxide while driving, to use his mobile phone at the wheel and to drive dangerously.

These avoidable actions led to the devastating collision that caused the death of Bonney."

References

1. ^ Blackley (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Lancashire (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Boozed up businessman said he would not be f***ing getting off' after being chucked off Ryanair flight (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ 'It was never meant to happen...' gunman denies that he wanted to shoot his half-brother dead, murder trial hears (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Wythenshawe Hospital (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ Preston Crown Court heard the van was being driven at 'inappropriate speed' (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)