A man drank beer and shots in a pub before killing a six-year-old boy and two women in a 90mph car crash.
Joe-Lewis Tyler, 34, was jailed for 18 years for the February 22 collision in which he crashed his BMW into a Ford Mondeo taxi in Worcester.
A barman estimated Tyler had drunk around five pints of beer and four shots of Sambuca and Jagermeister before getting behind the wheel, Worcester Crown Court heard.
Taxi driver Courtney Hemming had just picked up six-year-old Leo Painter from school along with Claire Adkins, 39, who was walking him home, when the BMW crashed into the driver’s side of her car as she exited the driveway. school at a speed of 80 km/h. road.
Both Mrs Hemming, mother of one, and Mrs Adkins, mother of three, who were related, were killed instantly. Leo died shortly after being taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Tyler suffered fractures to his shin and ankle and had to undergo back surgery.
A post-crash analysis found he had between 103 and 215mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – above the legal limit of 80mg per 100ml. He had also consumed cocaine and marijuana.
The court heard Tyler was involved in two near misses minutes before the fatal accident.
A driver who saw the BMW before the collision said she feared for her life when the vehicle hit standing water on the road and almost turned into her.
Tyler, of no fixed address, had already lost control and “spun” the BMW while trying to make a turn.
He had borrowed someone else’s vehicle and the temporary insurance expired about 90 minutes before the fatal accident.
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Tyler demonstrated ‘crazy’ attitude towards safety, judge says
Tyler was jailed for 18 years for three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and three counts of causing death without insurance. He initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his pleas six weeks before the trial began.
He was also banned from driving for 17 years and must take a further extended test before he can drive again.
Judge James Burbidge KC said Tyler demonstrated an “arrogant” attitude to driving safety after drinking.
“Both the BMW and Mondeo were in good condition and so the only cause of the collision was his atrocious driving – in other words, the way he chose to drive,” he said.
“In your prepared statement to the police, you said that you believed you were driving normally, but the collision report estimates that you were driving at around 145 km/h in a 80 km/h limit and the car was stuck in sixth gear.”
‘I just wish today’s result could bring them back’
In a statement released by West Mercia Police, Hemming’s mother Michelle said: “Justice has been served but that doesn’t change things for us.
“We will forever miss our beautiful cousin Claire and my daughter Courtney.
“Little Leo will always be looked after by those girls because they loved him, if it weren’t for him I don’t think any of them would have stayed in their jobs.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
