Death driver's hospital detention

The three girls were in the back seat of a Fiesta when it crashed

A driver who suffered brain injuries in a crash which killed his three teenage passengers has been detained indefinitely in a mental hospital.

James Houston crashed in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, during a street race, killing Gemma Cost, 15, and Ursula Alokolaro and Natalie Donlan, both 16.

The driver of the other car, Adam Anguige, was jailed for 10 years for causing death by dangerous driving.

A hospital order was made by a judge at Bradford Crown Court.

In an earlier hearing, the court was told Houston, 27, from Huddersfield, lost control of a Fiesta and crashed into a lorry while overtaking Anguige in Wakefield Road in September 2006.

Families praised

He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but was deemed not fit to stand trial because he lacked the mental capacity after being injured in the crash.

A jury found that he had committed the act of driving in a dangerous manner.

It's hard to conceive of a more distressing case than this Judge Christopher Prince

In making the hospital order, Judge Christopher Prince said doctors, who had assessed Houston, had said he was still physically capable of driving.

He said psychiatrists could not guarantee Houston would not pose a serious risk to the public by getting behind the wheel of a car again.

Judge Prince said: "It's hard to conceive of a more distressing case than this.

"Three teenager girls, all of whom come from loving, close families, have lost their lives."

Judge Prince told the court today's judgment brought to a close a long legal process which had seen the families of the three girls attend numerous court hearings since the crash.

He praised the families for their "resolute, conspicuous dignity and composure".

Houston was banned from driving for 10 years.