Driver jailed for causing teenager’s death in Brierley Hill
19-year-old Kane Foster died after a collision on Coopers Bank Road in June 2023.
A man has been jailed after crashing his car in Brierley Hill, killing his friend and injuring three other people.
Connor Jones, of Lower Gornal, was sentenced to 12 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday (7 May) after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The 21-year-old was at the wheel of a Ford Focus when it collided with another car in Coopers Bank Road on the evening of Friday 16 June 2023.
Jones was driving at speed when he lost control of the vehicle and crossed onto the other side of the road, crashing head on into a Peugeot travelling in the opposite direction.
Kane Foster, who was a friend of Jones and one of three passengers in the car he was driving, was seriously injured as a result of the collision. Sadly, the 19-year-old died from his injuries a few days later.
Two women, a 23-year-old from the Focus and the 26-year-old driver of the Peugeot, were also seriously injured. Another passenger from the Focus, a 22-year-old woman, received treatment for minor injuries sustained as a result of the collision.
Jones fled the scene without calling for help but police quickly caught up with him, arresting him two days later.
Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Tragically, a young man lost his life and two women were seriously hurt as a result of Connor Jones’s dangerous actions on the road last year.
“To make matters worse, he ran off without calling for help but he is now paying for his selfish and irresponsible behaviour.
“We want people to be safe on our roads and to enjoy driving but you need to understand the consequences of your decisions. Speeding and drug driving are just two of the common factors in the unfortunate incidents we deal with, in particular with young inexperienced drivers like Connor.
“While he has deservedly been locked up for his actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected by this dreadful incident, I hope this totally avoidable tragedy makes other drivers think about their decisions and realise that in a split second those decisions can result in the loss of a life.”