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Thomas Johnson, a driver caught inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel before a high-speed crash that killed three teenage friends, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison. In June 2023, Johnson was driving at speeds of up to 100mph when his BMW hit a tree in the village of Marcham, Oxfordshire, killing passengers Elliot Pullen, 17, Daniel Hancock and Ethan Goddard, both 18. Johnson, who had held his license for less than a year at the time of the accident, had pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
During the investigation, police discovered two nitrous oxide canisters inside the car and eight more in the boot. Data from a mobile phone recovered from the crash site showed that Johnson had reached a peak speed of 97mph in the 30 seconds before the accident. Videos filmed just before the collision also showed Johnson driving at excessive speeds with inflated balloons in his mouth.
The victims’ families denounced Johnson’s “reckless and dangerous” behavior, calling him a “cocky teenage boy” who was showing off. Speaking outside Oxford Crown Court, they urged others not to follow in Johnson’s footsteps. Melanie Goddard, Ethan’s mother, said the crash had left a “massive hole” and the loss had affected their whole family.
The judge presiding over the case said Johnson’s actions were “all for teenage thrills” and that his “reckless decision-making” had resulted in the deaths of three teenage passengers. Johnson was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and 11 weeks. Following the verdict, the victims’ families pledged to join various road safety campaigns and said they were determined to push for graduated driving licenses for young novice drivers
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