Latest news with #LouisaTunstall
The Independent
15-05-2025
- The Independent
CCTV captures teen driver inhaling ‘hippy crack' seconds before horror crash
A woman who ran over a pedestrian just seconds after she inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon at the wheel has been detained for 20 months. This CCTV footage captured Louisa Tunstall, 19, using the Class C drug, often referred to as 'hippy crack', while travelling in her Fiat 500 in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Moments later Tunstall's vehicle veered onto the pavement and struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian and then overturned on the East Lancashire Road, Lowton. The pedestrian sustained serious life-changing injuries. Tunstall, of Bradwell Road, Lowton, received the custodial sentence at Bolton Crown Court for possession of a Class C drug, driving under the influence of drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, said GMP.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- The Independent
Driver inhaled nitrous oxide, then ran over pedestrian seconds later
A driver who inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon, then ran over a pedestrian seconds later, has received a 20-month sentence. Louisa Tunstall inhaled the Class C drug – sometimes referred to as 'hippy crack' – while driving in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on May 24, 2024. Moments later, her Fiat 500 veered onto the footpath, hitting a 51-year-old woman, Greater Manchester Police said. The pedestrian received serious life-changing leg injuries. Tunstall, of Bradwell Road, Lowton, received the custodial sentence at Bolton Crown Court on Wednesday. She had been found guilty of possession of a Class C drug, driving under the influence of drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, said GMP. She was also banned from driving for two years and eight months, and ordered to take an extended test. In a victim impact statement, the injured pedestrian said: 'I would like to say that this incident has had a significant impact on not only my life but my family's life. 'As I cannot get upstairs, I need someone to be with me all of the time and my daughter has become my full-time carer which isn't fair on her as she is currently studying at university. 'When I think about the actions of the driver, I feel like she has turned my world upside down. I have missed so much in my life, and I feel that she can just go about her business as normal with no understanding of the consequences for her actions.' Following sentencing, Pc Stefan Bielizna from GMP's roads policing unit, said: 'It was made clear by the judge that drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide, like in this case, will be given time behind bars if they choose to get behind the wheel. 'Being in possession and especially under the influence of nitrous oxide has similar effects to other drugs and can severely impair your capability to drive. 'There is no excuse for taking other people's lives into your hands due to the reckless and selfish behaviours that Tunstall has shown.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Driver high on nitrous oxide struck pedestrian
A teenager high on nitrous oxide knocked down a pedestrian before her car overturned and ended up on its side in the road. Louisa Tunstall, from Lowton in Wigan, was driving her white Fiat 500 along Newton Road in the town when she struck the 51-year-old woman. Tunstall, 19, claimed she had been trying to retrieve something from the footwell of her car when the collision happened on 24 May 2024. She was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty at Bolton Crown Court to dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs. The court heard Tunstall had veered on to the pavement before striking the pedestrian. She admitted to police that she had been taking nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas and is a Class C drug that has been banned since 2023. Tunstall's victim was left with life-changing injuries which still affect her, the court heard. In a victim impact statement, the 51-year-old said: "I remember lying on the floor and looking down at my left leg and seeing blood dripping down. "I looked up and saw a white car on its side. "I do not remember feeling any pain at the time. I was shouting for help, I felt like I was whispering, it didn't seem real." The victim said she was still not able to lead an active life and could not properly use her left leg. Tunstall, of Bradwell Road, was banned from driving for two years and told that, in order to regain her licence, she would then have to pass an extended driving test. PC Stefan Bielizna, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "It is clear to see the catastrophic effects the actions of Tunstall have had on the victim. "The victim's bravery... should be commended and we hope she can continue her recovery safe in the knowledge that justice has been served. "It was made clear by the judge that drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide will be given time behind bars if they choose to get behind the wheel." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Greater Manchester Police
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Wigan woman high on nitrous oxide hit woman before flipping car
A teenager high on nitrous oxide knocked down a pedestrian before her car overturned and ended up on its side in the road. Louisa Tunstall, from Lowton in Wigan, was driving her white Fiat 500 along Newton Road in the town when she struck the 51-year-old 19, claimed she had been trying to retrieve something from the footwell of her car when the collision happened on 24 May was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty at Bolton Crown Court to dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs. The court heard Tunstall had veered on to the pavement before striking the pedestrian. She admitted to police that she had been taking nitrous oxide, which is also known as laughing gas and is a Class C drug that has been banned since 2023. Tunstall's victim was left with life-changing injuries which still affect her, the court heard. In a victim impact statement, the 51-year-old said: "I remember lying on the floor and looking down at my left leg and seeing blood dripping down."I looked up and saw a white car on its side."I do not remember feeling any pain at the time. I was shouting for help, I felt like I was whispering, it didn't seem real."The victim said she was still not able to lead an active life and could not properly use her left leg. Tunstall, of Bradwell Road, was banned from driving for two years and told that, in order to regain her licence, she would then have to pass an extended driving test. PC Stefan Bielizna, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "It is clear to see the catastrophic effects the actions of Tunstall have had on the victim."The victim's bravery... should be commended and we hope she can continue her recovery safe in the knowledge that justice has been served."It was made clear by the judge that drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide will be given time behind bars if they choose to get behind the wheel." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Watch: Teenage driver inhales laughing gas seconds before hitting pedestrian
Greater Manchester Police A teenage driver who hit a pedestrian after taking laughing gas has been jailed. CCTV footage shows Louisa Tunstall inhaling nitrous oxide through a balloon at the wheel of her Fiat 500 in Wigan in May last year. She lost control of the car seconds later and veered into a 51-year-old woman walking on the pavement, seriously injuring her. The 19-year-old was jailed for one year and eight months at Bolton Crown Court on Tuesday for possession of a Class C drug, driving under the influence of drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She was also disqualified from driving for two years and eight months and ordered to take an extended test when she is released. The court heard Tunstall had been driving on Newton Road in the village of Lowton on May 24 at 7pm when she swerved to the left onto the pavement. After colliding with the woman, the car overturned and caused life-changing injuries to her. In the aftermath of the crash, footage inside a patrol car shows a police officer telling Tunstall there is a suggestion she had been using the controlled drug. Tunstall stays silent in the video and can be seen looking away and fiddling with her fingers. She initially told officers she took her eyes off the road to retrieve something in the footwell, before later admitting she had been out to buy nitrous oxide to use that evening. The victim is still recovering from the injuries sustained to her leg, the court heard. In her victim impact statement, she said: 'Every night I go for a walk and use the same route. I usually walk with my daughter. However, this evening I was walking alone. 'When all of a sudden, I was banged into from behind, which caused me to fall to the floor. 'I remember lying on the floor and looking down at my left leg and seeing blood dripping down. I looked up and saw a white car on its side. 'I do not remember feeling any pain at the time. I was shouting for help, I felt like I was whispering, it didn't seem real.' She added: 'When I go past the scene of the collision in the car as a passenger, I now have to cover my eyes as I can't bring myself to look where it happened.' Greater Manchester Police's Roads Policing Unit said the use of nitrous oxide had become a recurring factor in incidents it attends. Pc Stefan Bielizna, who dealt with the investigation, said: 'It is clear to see the catastrophic effects the actions of Tunstall have had on the victim. 'The victim's bravery and support in this case to enable to pursue a prosecution should be commended and we hope she can continue her recovery safe in the knowledge that justice has been served. 'It was made clear by the judge that drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide, like in this case, will be given time behind bars if they choose to get behind the wheel. 'Being in possession and especially under the influence of nitrous oxide has similar effects to other drugs and can severely impair your capability to drive. 'There is no excuse for taking other people's lives into your hands due to the reckless and selfish behaviours that Tunstall has shown.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
