Boy racer killed girlfriend with dangerous manoeuvre in foggy conditions
A boy racer who killed his girlfriend with a dangerous manoeuvre under difficult driving conditions has been jailed. Sam Box was driving in a convoy with friends at a speed not suitable for the conditions, as the roads were wet and there was heavy fog.
He tried to overtake and lost control of his heavily modified Nissan 200SX and crashed into a bank at Crimp near Bude. His car was seen flying in the air before being up-ended and falling back down on its roof and sliding across the single carriageway.
The 25-year-old from Penstowe Road, Kilkhampton, received minor injuries in the collision on April 28, 2023, but his girlfriend, Briony-Storm Watkins, who was 24 at the time, received fatal head and chest injuries and her vocal box was crushed. Despite CPR from friends, local residents and paramedics, and advanced care from staff at Derriford Hospital, she never regained consciousness and was declared deceased later that evening.
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It was heard that on the day of her memorial service, Box, who pleaded guilty at magistrates' court and appeared at Truro Crown Court today (Friday, September 20) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, was at a car show.
Briony was described in court by her mum and sister as a "beautiful and generous young woman who was calm, gentle and selfless". Her generosity being best demonstrated by the care she provided to her mother. Briony was also known for her love of nature, especially bees.
The court was told how she had a talent for singing and would fill silences at the family home she shared with her mum in Pendeen with her beautiful singing.
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In a victim impact statement, Briony's mum Janine said her life and that of Briony's sister had been destroyed forever.
She said she no longer cares about anything as the void left by Briony's death is too much to bear. She added: "All I see now is Briony hitting the dashboard. I have lost my zest in life. Everything is just too much. I have retreated into a shell and I don't care about anything. My life has stopped.
"Briony was my rock. We went through a lot together. When I felt down she just knew and would turn up to do anything that needed doing or just to keep me company. Briony used to fill our house with her beautiful voice. Now the silence is deafening."
She said Box had been at a car rally in Exeter mere days after Briony's death even though her family was holding a memorial for her. In her victim impact statement she added: "He replaced his car so quickly. When we held a remembrance for Briony he was at a car show in Exeter. He has shown no remorse. That's unforgivable."
Emily Cook, prosecuting, told the court how that evening a group of friends travelled from Kilkhampton to Woolsery Milk near Bideford for what they described as a "milkshakes and crimes".
A video produced in court showed Box doing drifts around a roundabout on the way up from Cornwall, which was described by His Honour Judge Stephen Climie as proof enough that his driving was the opposite of safe from a so-called "experienced driver", especially when he had received a ticking off from a police officer a few months earlier for speeding.
The court was told that Box and his friends were car enthusiasts and his Nissan 200SX had received several modifications including racing bucket seats, alloy wheels and a turbocharger. The two passenger seats at the back had been removed and so had the airbags for both the driver and passenger, which the court was told would have made the car more dangerous in the event of a crash.
Ms Cook said Box's car may have passed a recent MOT, was insured and the modifications had been notified to the insurance company, but advisory comments from the MOT garage had indicated that another drive shaft was needed and should be repaired as soon as possible while the brakes pipes showed some corrosion.
In statements, several eyewitnesses said that Box had been driving too fast for the road conditions. There was thick fog and the road was wet. While the speed limit was 60mph in normal circumstances, a lorry, taxi and VW car drivers all said they drove at 40mph or lower as it was very difficult to see further in front.
However, CCTV cameras from a nearby industrial estate helped investigators establish that Box had been driving at 60mph. He also overtook a car and went over a solid white line albeit the cat's eyes were damaged and the line was feinter than it should have been.
Defending Box, Bathsheba Cassel, told the court that the only reason he had not attended Briony's memorial was because he would not have been welcome there.
She said he also only went to Newcastle to fetch a new car as it was on order from his boss at the garage where he worked. She said Box had shown great remorse. Reading a letter from Box, she said: "Since that night my life has been turned upside down. The 'what if' questions in my head are upsetting me. It has taken its toll.
"Briony was a beautiful soul. Her family may never want to hear from me but I can't say enough how much I am sorry. I was so proud of Briony for the short time she was in my life. We were excited to get to know each other better. I understand the severity of the accident and take responsibility for it. I wish I could turn back the time and change so much. What happened that day has been haunting me since."
Sentencing Box to seven years and six months in prison, Judge Climie told Box he did not accept that his behaviour had been that of an experienced driver, adding he had been driving irresponsibly.
He said: "Briony Watkins was 24. She has been described as beautiful, calm, gentle and selfless. Her generosity is best demonstrated by her caring nature including that she provided to her mum. She was known for her talent for singing. Now it's missed, how silence used to be broken by her singing now it has become interminable."
Addressing Box he said: "You said you are an experienced driver. I reject that proposition completely. You have some experience behind the wheel but the manoeuvres that took place on that fatal evening show that you are irresponsible and reckless."
As well as a prison sentence, Box was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.
After the sentencing hearing, serious collisions investigator, PC Sarah Harvey, said: “The sentence passed by Judge Climie shows the serious nature of this incident. The manner of driving by Box resulted in the tragic loss of a young life that so easily could have been avoided.
“Dangerous driving is any driving that falls far below that of a careful and competent driver, in essence if you wouldn’t do it in a driving test then you shouldn’t do it on the road.
“Rule 125 of the Highway Code states “Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. Cutting the number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every day is a responsibility we all share."
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