Teen Jailed For Five Years For Killing Friends In Car Crash

17-year-old Arseng Rashid has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of two friends.

The teen was showing off in his mother’s car when he lost control after driving straight over two roundabouts and clipping two kerbs, which caused the Toyota Corolla Verso to overturn as it sped down a slip-road on to the A66 in Stockton on 11 September.

Now 18, Rashid admitted two counts of death by dangerous driving after 17-year-old schoolmates Josh Hopkins and Joshua Stevenson, who were trapped in the seven-seater, died in the crash.

Teesside crown court heard how after picking his friends up for a "mooch", Rashid launched the vehicle into the air as it went over a humpback bridge near Kirklevington prison at an estimated 80-90mph.

Around 20 minutes before the fatal crash, he overtook a furious taxi driver at 85-90mph in a 30mph zone, Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said.

Minutes later, a CCTV camera caught Rashid driving the 2.2-litre diesel on the wrong side of the road at 68mph in Yarm Road, which is also a 30mph zone.

The court also heard that two other friends, who had been driven around Teesside for hours before the smash some time before 6am, were also injured and have been left with lasting mental scars.

The friends were on their way to a McDonalds at Teesside Park, via the A66, when Rashid went straight over two mini roundabouts.

One of the surviving teenagers later told police Rashid had said: "Shall I go straight over or round?"

The car clipped two kerbs, and as Rashid lost control it flipped over. There was no evidence of any braking.

"You have affected the lives of many," Judge Peter Fox said to the defendant.

"This is no mere recklessness. This is no mere error of judgment. You knew what you were doing." Rashid nodded as the judge said: "This is a very bad case. You know that."

Rashid had only passed his driving test 10 weeks before he killed his friends.

Rashid was sentenced to five years, starting in a young offender institution, and was banned from driving for five years, after which he must take an extended test.

(H)