31/03/2010

Driver Jailed For Fatal Crash

A man has been jailed after a motorcyclist was killed in a traffic collision, and his passenger was left permanently disabled.

Stuart Halliday, 20, of Tennyson Road, Droylsden pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, and was yesterday sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders institute at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

He was also banned from driving for four years.

The collision took place on Green Lane in Failsworth, just before 8pm on Friday 29 May 2009, and resulted in the death of 46-year-old Roy Ashton, who was from the Hyde area of Greater Manchester.

Halliday took a friend for a drive in Failsworth in a Volkswagen Polo. He picked his friend up from Droylsden, from where they drove to Daisy Nook and the Woodhouses area of Failsworth.

Halliday's friend said he was driving dangerously throughout the journey, taking corners at fast speeds and struggling to control the car.

As the Polo went round a downhill bend on Green Lane, it strayed into the opposite lane, and collided head on with Roy Ashton's motorbike.

The collision forced the bike back by 20 metres.

Roy, and his passenger Nikki Thomas, suffered extensive injuries. Roy died in hospital later that evening.

Nikki has been left permanently disabled by the incident. She remained in hospital for almost five months.

A traffic officer on patrol came across the scene at about 8pm.

Halliday had stopped the car on a grass verge near to the scene. When approached by the police, he admitted losing control of the car as he came around the bend.

Sergeant Simeon Holt, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Halliday's irresponsible and reckless driving has had tragic consequences.

"He took a friend out in the car on a Friday night and throughout the journey drove with abandon. To say that this was therefore an accident does not wash.

"Had Halliday been driving safely, Roy Ashton would not have been killed and Nikki's quality of life would not have been ruined."

(PR/BMcc)

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