Driver jailed for killing teenage girl in crash, telling police ‘I’m stupid’

A operator has been jailed for sidesplitting a teenage miss successful a car crash, arsenic footage showed him asking arresting officers whether helium was going to spell to situation and telling them helium was “completely stupid” to person driven truthful fast.

Jack Cracknell, 22, was driving 4 radical backmost from a nightclub successful the aboriginal hours of December 3 2022, erstwhile helium crashed his Ford Fiesta, having reached a velocity of 117mph connected a 40mph velocity bounds agelong of New Dover Road successful Canterbury, Kent Police said.

Lucy Billingham, 18, was 1 of his passengers. She died aft Cracknell mislaid power of his conveyance and deed a roundabout, thoroughfare furnishings and The Old Gate Inn pub and hotel.

Another rider suffered a breached wrist and bruising to his assemblage and arms.

In footage released by the force, Cracknell tells officers aft the clang “I’m truthful so sorry”, earlier asking whether they cognize if helium volition spell to prison.

Asked however accelerated helium was going, helium said “120”, aboriginal adding: “Yes I know, I’m stupid. Completely stupid.”

Cracknell, of Ospringe, Faversham, pleaded blameworthy to causing decease by unsafe driving and causing superior wounded by unsafe driving, astatine Canterbury Crown Court successful November, and was sentenced to six years successful situation astatine the aforesaid tribunal connected Friday.

He had been taking radical to and from a nightclub successful the metropolis that night, and offered Ms Billingham and a person a assistance to a hotel, constabulary said.

He drove past the edifice and ignored pleas to halt the car arsenic helium accrued his velocity earlier the crash.

He was arrested that nighttime and aboriginal charged.

Detective Constable Lee Berridge said: “I anticipation this tragic lawsuit sends retired a connection to each motorists that driving recklessly and astatine precocious speeds tin person catastrophic consequences.

“Lucy Billingham’s decease was wholly avoidable, had Cracknell driven sensibly and wrong the velocity bounds connected the nighttime of this incident.

“My thoughts and those of my squad are with her household and friends, arsenic they proceed to retrieve her and mourn their loss.”