Women whose lives were cruelly snatched away by idiocy

These are the faces of four women whose lives were snatched away by dangerous drivers who thought nothing of the consequences of their actions. Smiling happily in their photographs, each shows a life full of promise. One, just 17, dreamed of becoming a paediatrician when her live was cut short after a high-speed crash on Mancunian Way.

Another was a devoted mother-of-three and teacher hit by a driver high on cocaine in Wigan[1]. Tragically, every one of these women died at the hands of people who were using drugs and driving. In three of the cases, the man they were travelling with was inhaling laughing gas - commonly known as 'hippy crack' behind the wheel.

The other driver took cocaine 'to sober him up' after drinking six pints, LancsLive reports.[2]

This month, nitrous oxide was outlawed for recreational purposes due to concern about the effects of the widely used substance. Long term use can cause anaemia, nerve damage and paralysis.

But as each of these cases show, it can also cause fatalities on the roads. While the gas can still be used for legitimate purposes, such as catering and medical settings, anyone found to be carrying the canisters for unlawful purposes can now face up to two years in prison. Those supplying it can face up to seven years.

At the time these women were killed, the gas, often inhaled through balloons, had not been outlawed. However the consequences were tragic. Nadia Yusuf

Nadia Yusuf was 17 when she was killed in a high speed crash on Mancunian Way.

Her killer, Rohani Jillani, 25, was filming Snapchat videos with one hand and inhaling nitrous oxide balloons with the other while driving 98mph in a 40mph zone, in his Mercedes A180. Nadia, a health and social care student dreamed of becoming a paediatrician. Her family described her as a young woman "with everything to live for." But when she and another teenager got in the car with Jilliani, he risked their lives by driving dangerously.

For Nadia, the consequences were fatal. As the car veered left onto Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, Jillani lost control and collided with the viaduct. The driver also suffered a brain injury in the crash.

Last month he was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison, after pleading guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Laura Hazeldine

A teenager killed a mum-of-three after fatally smashing into her outside a pub whilst high on cocaine. Jacob Gaskell, had been inhaling laughing gas from a balloon when he injured two other pedestrians.

The teen lost control at the wheel of his Land Rover Freelander before the hit-and-run crash where he mounted the pavement in front of a Wigan pub. The incident happened on the evening of April 8 on Ormskirk[5] Road, Pemberton - the day before Gaskell's 19th birthday and just two months after he was handed a suspended sentence for a previous dangerous driving offence. As Gaskell left the scene on foot, 44-year-old teacher Laura Hazeldine lay dying outside pub Number 15.

Gaskell, of Marlbrough Avenue, Ince, has been jailed for nine years at Bolton[6] Crown Court[7] with a further 10 year ban following his release from prison. Bonney-Rae Barrow

Bonney-Rae Barrow had a special kind of friendship with Cameron Hughes, a friend of the family who she treated like a cousin. Hughes and the teenager shared a zest for life, always laughing and joking together.

On July 7, 2023, Hughes picked Bonney up in his van to give her a lift home. This was not a problem to Bonney's parents, who trusted Hughes with her life. They had known the young man for years and saw him as part of the family.

But as Hughes, a delivery driver, laughed and joked with Bonney behind the wheel of his Mercedes Sprinter, he also inhaled laughing gas and recorded Snapchat videos on his phone. At 520pm, the van plunged from a bridge on the A59 Accrington[8] Bypass, propelling Bonney into the windscreen and causing catastrophic injuries. Bonney died at Wythenshaw Hospital the next day after medics battled to save her life.

As Hughes was jailed for seven years for causing Bonney's death by dangerous driving, his defence said he was "wracked with guilt." Bonney's mum Sarah said: "All he had to do that day was be responsible and get Bonney home to our safety, but he risked her life with what he did and cost us our beautiful daughter". Lisa Birtwistle

Ashley Dean, 40, had been drinking with his friend Lisa Birtwistle in the Castle Gardens pub in Carleton, Poulton-le-Fylde[9].

When he met Lisa and another friend he said he planned to leave his work van in the car park and get a lift home from his wife. Throughout the evening, Dean downed pints and sniffed a line of cocaine he had collected from a dealer. He said the cocaine would "sober him up".

Lisa, a loving mum of two, was leaving the pub alone when she bumped into Dean again in the car park. He persuaded her to return for another drink and gave her a lift home. Sadly, Lisa never made the journey.

As Dean took a left hand bend he lost control of the Mercedes Sprinter and collided with a gate post. Lisa was thrown from the van and killed. As Lisa lay critically injured in the road, Dean disposed of his cocaine in a nearby alleyway and returned to the van, where he stood smoking an e-cig while a passing motorist tried to save her life.

Dean, of Argyll Road, Poulton-le-Fylde is now beginning a nine year prison sentence for causing Lisa's death by dangerous driving.

References

1. ^ Wigan (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ LancsLive reports. (www.lancs.live)
3. ^ The latest court news and headlines here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Body of woman, 46, found near river after police search (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Ormskirk (www.lancs.live)
6. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
7. ^ Court (www.lancs.live)
8. ^ Accrington (www.lancs.live)
9. ^ Poulton-le-Fylde (www.lancs.live)