Boy racer killed deputy head girl in crash one day after passing test
A BOY racer killed a deputy head girl in an 80mph crash less than 24 hours after passing his driving test, a court heard yesterday.
Passenger Olivia Alkir died when the 17-year-old driver smashed head- on into a car while racing another pupil.
The driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, agreed to race Thomas Quick, 18, because he was due to have a black box fitted to his Ford Fiesta to monitor his speed for insurance purposes the following day.
The boys had already had two races on a straight road in Ruthin, North Wales, earlier that day. The younger boy had won, after reaching speeds of 110mph, Mold Crown Court heard.
But school prefect Quick, then 17, told the younger driver he would ‘do’ him on a windier stretch of road.
They were racing side by side and showing off to their female passengers when the younger driver lost control on a bend and smashed head- on into an oncoming Mercedes.
Rear-seat passenger Olivia, 17, who was deputy head girl at Ysgol Brynhyfryd school and represented it in swimming, cross country and hockey, died at the scene.
Two other girls in the car, plus the 52-year-old driver of the Mercedes and his 76year-old mother, who was a
Jailed: Thomas Quick passenger, were seriously injured in the crash last June. Yesterday, Quick and the 17- year- old admitted causing Olivia’s death by dangerous driving and were jailed for five years.
Judge Niclas Parry said their ‘arrogant, selfish and egotistical conduct’ had caused her death. He said: ‘No newly qualified driver should be permitted to drive on any public road until a speed restricting device has been installed.’
Dashcam footage showed the boys dangerously overtaking each other on blind bends, with their wheels leaving the ground just before the tragedy.
Hauntingly, in the moments before the crash passengers in a third vehicle, driving behind, could be heard on dashcam footage saying: ‘All our friends are going to die today.’
John Philpotts, prosecuting, said Quick, had manipulated the younger boy, who had passed his driving test the day before, ‘egging him on’ to race.
Friends had videoed the boys racing, during which the younger boy hit speeds of up 110mph on the 60mph limit road. He drove into a ditch after a near miss with another car.
The day after the crash Quick changed tyres but police recovered the original defective ones.
Olivia’s parents, Joanna and Mesut, said: ‘Olivia was smart, ambitious, passionate and full of fun. ‘She was our world and the best daughter anyone could ask for. We will never recover from losing our gorgeous girl. We wake to a living hell every day.
‘This was a calamity caused by the reckless and criminal actions of two young men who played Russian roulette with the lives of passengers and road users.’
The court heard both boys had enjoyed excellent upbringings. Quick, from Clawddnewydd, who had aspirations to be a doctor, was a high achiever. He regretted his actions ‘desperately,’ his barrister said.
Debra White, who was defending the 17-year- old, from Dyffryn Clwyd, said he was ‘truly sorry’.
The pair also admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and were banned from driving for seven years and six months.
‘We wake to a living hell’