A SECOND MAN HAS BEEN JAILED IN CONNECTION WITH A FATAL COLLISION WHICH KILLED A TEENAGE GIRL FROM SALFORD

Thomas Humphreys (19/7/96) of Ruskin Court, Farnworth, has today, Friday 12 October 2018, been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years and six months at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Humphreys pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to perverting the course of justice, aiding and abetting dangerous driving, and dangerous driving.

At 9.50pm on Thursday 31 May 2018, police were called to Europa Way in Trafford Park to reports that a car had collided with a number of pedestrians.

Seven people were taken to hospital but sadly 19-year-old Sophie Smith (pictured with her boyfriend bellow) died the following day as a result of catastrophic injuries.

The car involved in the collision, a blue BMW 330D, had been supplied to Thomas Humphreys as a courtesy vehicle after his own car had been damaged in a previous collision in Bolton. On the evening of 31 May, Humphreys drove the BMW to Trafford Park to attend an unofficial car meet.

Humphreys was seen to be driving the BMW at speed, and witnesses saw him attempting to ‘drift’ the car around Europa Circle.

Humphrey’s then gave his friend, Scott Watkins, permission to drive the BMW.  Scott Watkins got in the drivers’ seat and sped away, leaving Humphreys behind.

Witnesses saw Scott Watkins speeding and attempting to “drift” the car. He lost control of the BMW, before mounting the pavement and hitting a group of pedestrians.

Despite realising a collision had occurred, Humphreys fled the scene and went to his mother’s address. He then telephoned the police and reported his BMW as stolen, in an attempt to cover his tracks. But his version of events was quickly discovered to be a lie, and he was swiftly arrested.

Inspector Daniel Byrne, from GMP’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit, said:

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“This was an incredibly tragic incident in which a young woman’s life was cut short, and my thoughts remain with Sophie’s friends and family.

“Humphreys made the cowardly decision to flee the scene, and refused to face up to his actions by lying to police in an attempt to cover his tracks.

“I welcome this sentence today, as Humphreys will face the next 20 months in jail and must finally face the consequences of what he has done.”