Death crash motorist, 19, jailed

A judge said Grimes was indulging in "competitive driving"

A teenage motorist who killed a 17-year-old girl while racing at speeds of up to 100mph has been jailed for eight years at York Crown Court.

Luke Grimes, 19, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, had earlier admitted death by dangerous driving when his car crashed into a tree on 12 March.

Passenger Kelly Bennett died when Grimes lost control of his Citroen Saxo on the A658.

Judge Paul Hoffman said Grimes' "dreadful" driving had tragic results.

This was a dreadful act of driving leading to the most tragic consequences Judge Hoffman

The court heard from witnesses who saw the car before the crash and described it as "an accident waiting to happen".

Grimes was at the back of a convoy of four cars travelling along the Harrogate to Knaresborough bypass on the evening of the accident.

He had three passengers in his Citroen Saxo, including Kelly, who was sitting behind the driver's seat.

As all four cars overtook other vehicles on the road, Grimes was forced to brake after realising he did not have time to pull back in behind his friends, the court heard.

He lost control of the car, which swerved across the road on to an embankment before crashing through a fence and into a tree.

Dangerous driving kills, Luke Grimes still has a life. Kelly does not Bennett family

David Garnet, prosecuting, said: "Kelly's unfortunate positioning meant she too also struck the tree with her head, suffering fatal injuries."

Police officers calculated Grimes' speed as between 68 and 71mph but witnesses described the car as travelling at up to 100mph. The speed limit on the road is 60mph.

Recorder of York His Honour Judge Hoffman told Grimes: "You were indulging in competitive driving, which witnesses have described as racing - that evidence I accept."

The judge also disqualified Grimes from driving for seven years and ordered that he take an extended test after that time.

He added: "This was a dreadful act of driving leading to the most tragic consequences."

In a statement, Kelly's family said: "Dangerous driving kills, Luke Grimes still has a life. Kelly does not."