Death crash driver 'had not had lesson'
An unqualified teenage motorist who had never had a driving lesson killed a passenger in another car after crashing as he raced it along a Wolverhampton road, a court heard.
Tobias Pearce had bought the dark blue Mazda only two days earlier, despite not having a driving licence, or even a provisional licence.
The 19-year-old had followed the other car, a silver Honda, when it left The Waggon and Horses pub on the Cannock Road at speed in the early hours of the morning last July.
Footage of the Mazda travelling at up to 80mph overtaking both the Honda and a lorry in a 30mph zone minutes before the collision was shown to a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Driving the Honda was Gavin Williamson, with 21-year-old Jamel Thomas, of Chervil Drive, Park Village, in the front passenger seat.
When the Honda turned off into Woden Road, the Mazda, which was ahead, performed a U-turn and followed it. At the end of the road both cars turned right into Wednesfield Road towards the city centre, with the Mazda travelling in the bus lane "presumably in an effort to undertake the Honda", said Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting.
But in Heath Town, Pearce smashed into the Honda as Mr Williamson turned left into Lincoln Street, sending the car into a 50-metre spin and causing Mr Thomas to be hurled through the side window. He was declared dead at the scene. Pearce got out, had a brief conversation with Mr Williamson then ran away. But he was arrested 11 hours later at his home in Valley Road, Park Village, Wolverhampton.
Traffic police, who calculated Pearce was travelling at a minimum of 52mph at the time of the impact, found no brake marks in the bus lane. They said Mr Williamson's car must have slowed considerably to have performed a 90-degree turn and be in the correct lane, indicating it was not travelling above the speed limit.
Pearce admitted following the Honda. He denies causing death by dangerous driving.
The case continues.
