Man sentenced after three teenagers killed in crash in North Yorkshire
The crash happened in Bedale in 2022
Last updated 14th Mar 2024
A 20-year-old Bedale man has been jailed for nine years and four months after causing the death of three teenagers when the car he was driving collided with a tree.
At his first appearance at York Magistrates’ Court on 15 February, Joshua Chapman of Mosquito Court, Bedale, pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of Louis Banks, 17, Aaron Bell, 18 and Tommy Shevels, 18.
The three teenagers died on the night of 29 July 2022 when Chapman, who was driving an Alfa Romeo in which they were passengers, lost control of the car and hit a tree as it travelled from Bedale to Masham along the B6268.
Tragically Louis, Aaron and Tommy all died at the scene of the collision. Joshua Chapman, who was 18 at the time of the crash, also sustained serious injuries including multiple fractures and a head injury. He was hospitalised for a number of weeks and told police that he had no recollection of the incident.
Investigators were able to show that the vehicle was travelling at excessive speed as it negotiated bends along the Bedale to Masham road before it left the road. A motorist who was in front of Chapman’s car told police that the Alfa Romeo was following very close behind him, pipping its horn several times before it overtook him when he stopped at a set of traffic lights, driving through while the lights were on red.
"This catastrophic collision must serve as a lesson to everyone"
A short time later, that same motorist came across the scene of the devastating collision.
Sergeant Ed Drake, of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Investigation Team, said: “This was an absolute tragic and completely avoidable loss of three young lives.
“Joshua Chapman is now facing the consequences of his dangerous driving, but no sentence can ever compensate for the loss of Louis, Aaron and Tommy, the lives they would have lived and the pain their grieving families are going through.
“This catastrophic collision must serve as a lesson to everyone, particular young drivers, of the importance of being in control of your vehicle at all times. Driving within in the law, within your own capabilities and according to the road conditions is paramount in keeping you, your passengers and other road users safe.
“Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of Louis, Aaron and Tommy. I would also like to acknowledge and thank them for their immense patience and understanding during what has been a lengthy and traumatic investigation.”
Chapman was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on 14 March 2024 where the judge also banned him from driving for 10 years, with a four-year ban from the date of his prison release. He was also ordered to take an extended driving test.
Family tributes
"Losing Louis has changed our lives forever.
"Louis was a good, kind, loving beautiful boy inside and out. His beautiful cheeky smile lit up a room. On the 29th July 22 we joined a club we never wanted to be in and now can never leave. Bereaved parents.
"His siblings Harry & Gracie losing their loving noisy annoying brother.
"Louis loved life and farming, a ball of constant energy, he had big plans for his life, he knew that farming was all he wanted to do.
"He was a hard-working young man who would do anything to help anyone. He had his whole life in front of him. He had a fantastic circle of friends who I know miss him dearly.
"Louis never got embarrassed to show his feelings, he never had the grunting teenager stage, there was always a‘love ya’ at the end of the day and those where his last words to me, my birthday the day he was killed .
"We miss the joy, the noise, the laughter that Louis brought to our lives, the silence now is deafening. Nothing I write can do my boy justice. Louis should still be here but he’s not.
"We will be forever proud and lucky to have had him in our lives for those 17 years. Our love for him will always remain.
"Our beautiful boy Louis."
"Aaron had become an inspirational young man, he was our world, our son, Lukes big bro and our best buddy.
"He was a kind, caring and hardworking. Aaron was a talented sportsman, fast, strong, gifted, witty yet humble.
"He was tenacious and his love and passion for rugby, cricket, showing sheep and life was unwavering.
"Aaron was destined to succeed in whatever he wanted to do. He had the world at his feet. He had a cheeky smile and a contagious laugh that would light up any room. He was one of the reasons we got up in the morning. Aarons zest for life was an ever-burning flame, igniting passion and inspiration in everyone who had the privilege to know him. He touched so many lives.
"Aaron was an adored grandson and nephew.
"He leaves behind his rugby brothers and close friends who have been an incredible source of strength and comfort to us.
"A life so full of promise cut short, cruelly taken from us all. Our world has fallen apart and our lives forever changed. Our hearts are broken and the unimaginable pain from losing a child will stay with us for ever.
"A huge hole has been left that can never be filled. No sentence today will justify the loss of Aaron, his life needlessly taken. We have to live with the consequences of the driver’s actions for the rest of our lives, we are as a family living a life sentence for something that should never have happened.
"Grief is a lonely road to walk. Grief is just love that has no place to go, Grief is the price we are now paying for loving Aaron, and we loved him more than words can describe.
"As much as we are forever broken inside, we have made a promise to our boys, Aaron, and Luke that we will find some strength no matter how long it takes us to try and live life again and we will use Aaron’s memories to be our inspiration for today and all our tomorrows."
"Losing our eldest son Tommy has devastated our family’s lives and the heartbreak has left huge holes in our hearts. Our younger son Ted is completely devastated. He loved and looked up to Tommy, he is missing him terribly as we all are.
“Tommy was the friendliest, kindest, and most caring boy. He was full of enthusiasm for life. Tommy was a boy who always had time for others and loved spending time with his family and friends, always with the biggest smile on his face.
“Our biggest regret is that we weren’t there to stop Tommy, Louis and Aaron getting in Joshua Chapman’s car on the night of the 29 of July 2022. His reckless behaviour devastated the lives of three families that night.
“We are so proud of the young man Tommy was turning into and we are going to love and miss him forever."