Drugged-up driver who crashed killing 19-year-old said 'I just killed my friend'

North Wales Live

4 days ago

A drugged-up man killed his best friend when he crashed his car as they travelled back from a rave where the driver had been taking ketamine and MDMA. Following his arrest for causing the death of his friend, Tymon Turner told police: "My friend is dead, I just killed my friend."
Jac Walters, 19, suffered a severe head injury and was killed after the silver Ford Fiesta driven by Tymon Turner, now 21, collided into a bank and flipped onto its roof. Mr Walters was declared dead at the scene.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday heard Jac, Turner and their friend Tom Beswick drove from their homes in Ceredigion on November 11, 2023, in order to attend a rave in the Forest of Dean, reports WalesOnline.
All three teenagers were school friends and left at 10pm, arriving at the Forest of Dean between midnight and 12.30am on November 12.
The rave started at around 1.30am, with Jac and the defendant drinking rum and coke. They spent the night dancing, with Turner taking at least three lines of ketamine, and MDMA.
Mr Beswick said the defendant "felt the effects" of the ketamine, and he was "stumbling around" to keep his balance.
The trio waited until around 8am for Tymon to sober up, but he wanted to go back to the rave so they remained there until 10.45am before heading back to the car.
They sat in the car for an hour and Jac had taken the defendant's car keys out of concern for his condition. Despite this, Turner wanted the keys back and was "determined to drive". Mr Beswick said he and Jac told Turner he was "being f****** stupid".
He added: "I had seen him sober up a bit more but I didn't think he should be driving."
Eventually the friend relented and the keys were given back to Turner who wanted to drive to Bristol in order to get food.
Shortly before 12pm, the defendant was driving along the A4136 near Monmouth with Mr Beswick in the passenger seat and Jac in the back seat. They were travelling downhill through a series of bends when Turner failed to take a right hand bend as a result of driving too fast and/or a misjudgement.
In order to compensate, Turner hit the brake and oversteered to the left which caused the car to hit a left hand bank. As a result, he lost control of the vehicle which ended up on its roof. The speed of the Fiesta at the time of impact was believed to be 26mph.
Following the collision, Jac was hanging halfway out of the car. He was not responsive and there was blood surrounding him.
An off-duty nurse saw the aftermath of the crash and sought the assistance of a police car and passers-by.
Shortly later, police officers and paramedics arrived at the scene and went to Jac's aid. They pulled him out of the car but he was unconscious and had suffered clear head injuries.
The police spoke to Turner who smelt of intoxicants, and they tested the defendant for alcohol and drugs. He said he had taken the bend too fast and Jac wasn't wearing his seatbelt. He was also found in possession of a small bag containing 0.45g of cocaine.
Jac died at the scene as a result of a severe head injury and Turner was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following his arrest, the defendant was in shock and told officers: "My friend is dead, I just killed my friend."
In custody, Turner provided a blood sample and gave a reading of 116 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of blood, the legal limit being 80 micrograms.
He also gave readings of 45 micrograms of ketamine per 100ml of blood and 45 micrograms of MDMA in 100ml of blood, both of these results being over the legal limit.
There was extensive damage to the nearside coroner of the Fiesta and scratching and denting on the roof. Both windows and the windscreen had been damaged and there was a severe impact to the offside.
Turner, of Prince's Avenue, Aberaeron, told officers he was not guilty of dangerous driving, and said he believed the drugs and alcohol he had taken were "no longer in his system".
The defendant later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, driving with excess drugs and alcohol and possession of cocaine. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In a heart wrenching victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor James Wilson, Jac's mother Donna said she would cherish the day before her son's death, when she saw him for the last time, for the rest of her life.
She said: "We spent a lovely day shopping and Jac spent his birthday gift vouchers early. We had a bite to eat, sat in the car by the seafront, chatted and listened to the music he had produced. We spent that evening with close family."
The next day, Donna said Jac had told her he was going to a music event, and she had told him not to go after hearing about issues on the M4. She said Jac reassured her, gave her a kiss and said goodbye.
She added: "The following day in work I was approached by a police officer and received the worst news a mother could hear. I not only lost my son, I lost my best friend as well. Every element of my life has changed; physically, emotionally, financially and mentally.
"Since the collision I am not able to sleep properly and I am unable to rest. I have dreams and nightmares about what happened to Jac, even though it's been a year since Jac's passing I still have dreams on a daily basis. They are graphic and vivid where he's still alive and we're talking but I wake up with my heart racing and hyperventilating. He is my last thought at night and my first thought in the morning."
Donna said she was an "independent and confident woman" before Jac's death but she now suffered panic attacks, anxiety and overwhelming emotions. She said she found it hard going out in public, and feared bumping into people she knew who might not know about Jac's death, and she would have to explain what had happened."
The statement continued: "Soon after losing my darling Jac I had to endure my first mother's day and birthday without him. I cannot find the words to describe the pain and anxiety of not being able to share any precious moments or milestones with Jac.
"I used to like watching programmes about the emergency services but I can no longer watch them because I think of Jac and what he went through. I have flashbacks of how things may have looked when they attended the scene. It's another reminder of how Jac isn't here anymore."
Donna said reliving the trauma of her son's death was "unbearable" and she was now nervous about being in a car herself, for fear of being involved in a collision.
As a result of her mental health, she has not been able to return to work and has moved to a one-bedroom flat. She said her lifestyle had changed and she now attended a number of support groups with people who had suffered similar tragedies.
She said: "In my darkest moments I contemplated taking steps to be with Jac, I miss him so much and want to be with him but I have a daughter and grandchildren and would never willingly put them through the pain and grief living with.... Jac's death left me asking what I have done to deserve all this hurt and pain. I have always tried to help people and work hard, and think of what ifs and if things could have been different.
"We are part of a large family and group of friends, Jac's loss has broken so many hearts. Jac's loss has affected every part of my life and things will never be the same again. I have been left heartbroken and miss him every single day."
In mitigation, Owen Williams said Turner was full of "regret, remorse, grief and guilt" as a result of causing his friend's death and had apologised to Jac's family for the immeasurable loss they had suffered.
Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "Jac was the treasured son of Donna, a much loved brother, grandson and friend. His death has devastated Donna and no doubt others close to him.
"I am satisfied you (Turner) are remorseful and regret what happened. You are described as a normally level headed young man with good intentions and a sound moral compass.
"This is a desperately sad case. You've deprived your friend of his future and consigned his loved ones to a life of unimaginable sadness. Life will never be the same and no sentence this court can pass will reconcile them to their loss."
Turner was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months detention in a young offenders' institute. He was also disqualified from driving for five years upon his release from prison.
Following the hearing, PS Shane Draper, of Gwent Police, said: "This is a tragic case that has resulted in the needless loss of a life. I would like to thank all those who provided information to assist in our investigation, and offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Walters.
"Driving under the influence of a substance will impair your ability to drive; there is no excuse for it. You may feel fine, you make look fine, but you could be over the limit for drink and drugs. Turner drove carelessly while unfit through both alcohol and illegal drugs and lost control of the vehicle. His failure to pay attention at all times and then drive while unfit has caused devastating consequences.
"The importance of driving carefully is never more poignant than in this case. Impaired driving destroys lives. Our message is clear – make the right decision – and never get behind the wheel if you've been drinking alcohol or taking drugs. As this case highlights, driving under the influence can have life-changing, or even life-ending, consequences."