Driver Jailed for Killing Three Teenage Friends in High-Speed Crash

A 19-year-old driver who inhaled laughing gas moments before a deadly crash that killed three teenage friends has been sentenced to over nine years in prison.

Thomas Johnson was driving at speeds of up to 100mph when his BMW 3 Series lost control and hit a tree in the village of Marcham, Oxfordshire, on 20 June 2023. The crash claimed the lives of passengers Ethan Goddard, 18, Daniel Hancock, 18, and Elliot Pullen, 17.

Johnson pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Oxford Crown Court and was jailed for nine years and four months. He was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and 11 weeks.

Families Speak Out

The victims’ families expressed their grief and anger, describing Johnson as a “reckless and cocky teenager” who was showing off.

Robert Goddard, Ethan’s father, said: “He’s ruined everyone’s lives. He’s taken three lives, destroyed his own, and devastated ours—all for showing off.”

Elliot Pullen’s sister, Mia, added: “I know he’s not an awful person, but he made awful decisions. He killed them, and I hope he feels guilty for the rest of his life.”

Kate and Giles Pullen, Elliot’s parents, said they were “sucked into a world of grief, sadness, and pain.” They revealed they were unable to see their son due to the severity of his injuries, describing their longing to have held him and said goodbye.

Daniel Hancock’s family urged others to avoid becoming passengers with reckless drivers, saying, “Learn from this—an opportunity the boys were not fortunate enough to be given.”

The Crash

Johnson had been driving for less than a year and had turned off the car’s safety features, including dynamic stability and traction control. Police investigators said he was driving aggressively, reaching speeds of nearly 100mph in a 30mph zone before losing control.

Moments before the crash, videos filmed inside the car showed Johnson and the passengers inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons. In the final video, recorded within a minute of the crash, Johnson accelerated from a red light and appeared to be attempting to skid the car.

The car hit a lamp-post before crashing into a large tree. All three passengers died at the scene, while Johnson sustained life-threatening injuries and spent several months in hospital.

Police found multiple nitrous oxide canisters in the car, with two in the cabin and eight more in the boot.

Judge’s Remarks

Judge Emma Nott described Johnson’s actions as being driven by “teenage thrills” and said the crash had devastating consequences. “Three passengers will never see beyond their teenage years, and you will move out of yours significantly disabled and with their deaths on your conscience,” she told Johnson.

Impact on Families

The victims’ families described the profound impact of the tragedy. Ethan Goddard had recently completed a two-year engineering course, and his mother, Melanie, said the loss left a “massive hole” in their lives.

Mia Pullen said the crash had left her family feeling incomplete: “Elliot’s room isn’t his room anymore. It doesn’t feel like a family anymore—it’s very difficult.”

Campaign for Safer Roads

Elliot’s parents are now campaigning for the introduction of graduated driving licences, which impose restrictions on new drivers to improve road safety. They said: “There is overwhelming evidence that these licences save lives—lives like Elliot’s, Ethan’s, and Daniel’s.”

Mia and her aunt have also raised money for RoadPeace, a charity supporting crash victims and bereaved families, in memory of Elliot.

Police and Community Response

Detective Sergeant Tony Jenkins of Thames Valley Police called the crash a tragic example of the dangers of reckless driving and drug use. “You hope your children don’t put themselves in these vulnerable situations,” he said.

Johnson, who initially claimed he could not remember the crash, later admitted to being the driver but denied driving fast or using nitrous oxide.

The families of the victims are urging others to reflect on the devastating consequences of dangerous driving, hoping their tragedy serves as a warning.