Latest news with #Tunstall
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
Metro
14-05-2025
- Metro
Teen hit woman seconds after inhaling 'hippy crack' at wheel of her Fiat 500
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A teenager who ran over a pedestrian just seconds after she inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon at the wheel has been detained for 20 months. CCTV footage captured Louisa Tunstall, 19, huffing on gold balloons full of 'hippy crack' while driving her Fiat 500 in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Moments later the car veered onto the pavement and hit teaching assistant Tracey Holman, 50, who was out on her regular evening walk. She was left severely injured in the impact with multiple fractures and injuries to her left leg, foot and ankle. Almost a year on the keen netball player is still undergoing treatment for her injuries and says she is a 'prisoner in her own home' as she has to sleep in a downstairs room. At Bolton Crown Court, Tunstall wept in the dock as she was ordered to be locked up in a Young Offender Institute for 20 months. She admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of class C drug nitrous oxide and driving while unfit through drugs. The incident occurred at 7pm on May 24 last year after Tunstall had been out with friends. Alex Beevers, prosecuting, said: 'This is a case where ultimately the mere act of consuming nitrous oxide behind the wheel is obviously an inherently dangerous thing to do. 'It is staggeringly dangerous driving. 'Mrs Holman was out walking as she does every evening when she was suddenly and forcefully struck from behind. 'On the floor she noted blood dripping down her left leg and saw a white car on its side and said it did not feel real. 'The incident was witnessed in part by another woman, who was idling in her vehicle when she saw a Fiat 500 occupied by two females with the car appearing to be traveling in excess of the 30mph speed limit. 'The driver was inhaling from a gold balloon. After the car crashed, she saw the same golden balloon deflated lying on the pavement.' The prosecutor added: 'Police attended, and the defendant said had been to purchase nitrous oxide for future use. She momentarily took her eyes off the road to retrieve something from the footwell. 'Officers recovered two large cylindrical canisters from the vehicle which were sent away for forensic assessment. 'Though the presence of nitrous oxide cannot be formally tested in the blood one of the significant aspects of the investigation was that one of the canisters weighed much less. 'The weight of both canisters should be 2kg but one of the canisters was 1.6kg which suggested that one of them had been used and discharged. 'There was also a nozzle inserted in the top of one of the canisters indicative of some use. 'CCTV showed both the defendant and the passenger with two fully inflated gold balloons in their mouths moments before what occurred.' In a victim impact statement, Mrs Holman 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.' Judge Abigail Hudson told Tunstall: 'Taking nitrous oxide with a balloon whilst driving a car is inherently dangerous. More Trending 'It must be entirely obvious to you that doing that would put everyone around you at risk. Yet you deliberately ignored the rules of the road and had a total disregard for the risk of danger to others. 'The result of your selfishness has been disastrous for Mrs Holman, 'You are a very young woman and while your presence here is absolutely tragic, you caused damage to Mrs Holman and her family. 'The message must be sent to the public that those who inhale nitrous oxide while driving will go to prison.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Fred and Rose West still haunt nation 30 years after House of Horrors was exposed MORE: How the Menendez brothers murder case unfolded after huge new release twist MORE: Reece Galbraith jailed for 14 years for Benwell cannabis lab explosion which killed boy, 7
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.
ITV News
14-05-2025
- ITV News
Teenage driver sentenced for hitting pedestrian after inhaling nitrous oxide
A woman who ran over a pedestrian just seconds after she inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon at the wheel has been jailed. Louisa Tunstall from Lowton near Wigan 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. The incident happened at around 7pm on Friday 24 May 2024 on Newton Road in Lowton, Wigan. Police worn body cam shows the car on it's side after it veered onto the pavement and hit a pedestrian. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say that CCTV footage captured Louisa Tunstall, 19, using the Class C drug, while travelling in her Fiat 500. 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 leg injuries from the incident. In a victim impact statement, the injured woman 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.' When questioned by officers, Tunstall stated that she took her eyes off the road to retrieve something in the footwell before knowing the car had flipped. Also, confirming she had just been out to purchase nitrous oxide to use that evening. She was jailed for one year and eight months in prison, banned from driving for two years and eight months, and ordered to take an extended test. 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.'
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
‘Hippy crack' crash driver who mowed down pedestrian while high learns her fate
Louisa Tunstall, 19, was filmed inhaling nitrous oxide, otherwise known as hippy crack, at the wheel of her Fiat 500 in Wigan before veering onto the pavement and hitting a woman A woman who ran over a pedestrian just seconds after she inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon while at the wheel of her car has been detained for 20 months. 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, said Greater Manchester Police. 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 leg injuries from the incident on the early evening of May 24. 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. 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 woman 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.' GMP established that Tunstall was under the influence of nitrous oxide at the time of the accident - a drug which has been banned since November 2023. She had also been out to purchase more nitrous oxide to use that same evening. When questioned by officers, Tunstall stated that she had "taken her eyes off the road to retrieve something in the footwell" before knowing the car had flipped. But witness accounts and nearby CCTV enabled police to establish that Tunstall, whilst driving, had inhaled nitrous oxide through a balloon seconds before the collision.
