BMW driver was travelling 100mph when he killed young man

A dangerous driver was driving with his accelerator "fully depressed" when his BMW collided with another car killing a "caring and gentle" 20-year-old. Driver Roger Brenninkmeyer's BMW was travelling at nearly 100mph when it hit an embankment on a rural road, overturned, collided with the victim's car and spun into a field, stopping 99 metres away.

Droy Darrock-York died in the collision near Pwllheli in Gwynedd, North Wales. Brenninkmeyer, 60, "wrongly" believed he faced bankruptcy from debts but he did not intend to kill himself on that particular journey in June 2022, his barrister told Caernarfon Crown Court.

A judge today jailed the defendant, of Hinderton Road, Neston, Wirral, for six years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for eleven years and four months, North Wales Live reports.

READ MORE: Man banned from estate with target of Elle Edwards shooting didn't learn his lesson

READ MORE: Domestic abusers to face tougher restrictions

Prosecutor David Mainstone told how Brenninkmeyer overtook several vehicles on narrow, minor roads near Pwllheli that Saturday, June 4, 2022 at about 12.30pm. One motorist had to slow down to let the defendant complete the manoeuvre.

He overtook again on a blind bend while another driver thought he had scraped a hedge. Yet another was "shocked" while a further witness saw a "clearly agitated" Brenninkmeyer waving his arms in his BMW as he passed him at about 60mph

The defendant reached the B4354 Llannor to Pentreuchaf road. Mr Darroch-York was ahead in his black Ford Fusion and had just turned into a junction when Brenninkmeyer's BMW approached him on the wrong side of the road.

Witness Andrew Lowe saw the BMW hit a grass bank, become airborne and hit Mr Darroch-York's car which rotated into a wall. The BMW's landed in a field and rolled over corner on corner before finishing 99 metres from the grass bank.

Mr Mainstone said an "airbag control module" from the BMW later showed it had been travelling at 99mph in a 20mph zone. An investigation found the accelerator had been "fully depressed at the moment of impact," said Mr Mainstone. Earlier Brenninkmeyer had been driving at 109mph, the court heard.

Mr Lowe stopped his car and went over to the overturned BMW. An upside down Brenninkmeyer, held by his seatbelt, told him he had just come from Pwllheli and said in a quiet voice: "I just want to die."

Two days earlier Brenninkmeyer, who thought he was in debt, left a note stating: "I have taken my own life as an act of cowardice". He had searched online about suicide. "It's clear the defendant was undergoing some mental health issues," said Mr Mainstone.

But Neil Saunders, defending, said his client "was not trying to kill himself on that particular journey." The businessman had recently moved to Pwllheli to look after his elderly mother, he could have collided head on with other vehicles and he was wearing a seatbelt which someone intending to kill themselves was "unlikely" to do, said Mr Saunders.

Earlier that day, he had gone to cliffs at Uchaf Mynydd but there were walkers around and he "did not think it was right to jump in front of them", said Mr Saunders. He claimed the defendant "wrongly" believed he faced bankruptcy from debts from a US business venture.

He also "wrongly" thought he had invested in a boat building company in North Wales and feared he would have to sell his mother's house. Mr Saunders said: "He was suffering in the weeks before from muddled thinking where he could not tell mistakes from reality."

Brenninkmeyer was badly injured and spent ten weeks in hospital including ten days in an induced coma. He had operations on his spine, a collapsed lung, pelvic fractures, liver lacerations and arterial dissections, said his barrister.

He was only told by his brother of Mr Darroch-York's death three months later, said Mr Saunders. He felt guilt and shame.

His brother, 57, said he had had "a lifelong battle with mental health". The court heard he had anxiety and depression and that his medication had been doubled in the days before the crash.

The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told the defendant he had been driving "far too fast" and had had "no regard" for anyone else's safety. After the sentencing Investigating officer, PC Gareth Rogers, of North Wales Police’ Serious Collisions Investigation Unit, said: “This was a tragic incident which needlessly resulted in the death of a young man at just 20-years-old.

“It stands as a stark reminder of the consequences which driving dangerously and at excessive speed can have. Droy Darroch-York has lost his life in this collision and Roger Brenninkmeyer is now serving a custodial sentence for his involvement. This was a completely avoidable incident, and it is only through sheer luck that more weren’t killed that day due to Brenninkmeyer’s completely reckless actions."

He added: “I understand that, whilst he is now behind bars for this offence, nothing is going to bring Droy back, and our thoughts continue to remain with his family and friends." He said drivers must obey speed limits and respect the safety of other road users. Drivers are responsible for their actions and the temptation to take risks can have long lasting consequences. "Please take a second to consider is it worth it.”