Over-limit biker killed his cousin in crash
AMOTORCYCLIST was over the drink-drive limit when he crashed into a car killing his own cousin.
Jonathan Walmsley, 27, was speeding when he crashed into a car. His cousin and pillion passenger Andrew Lewis, 22, died at the scene.
Walmsley, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, had been drinking and also tested positive for cannabis and amphetamines.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that neither men were wearing helmets when the motorbike crashed in a 20mph zone in Aberfan.
The court was told that the bike was attempting to overtake a Ford C-Max which was turning into a recycling centre.
Prosecutor Sarah Waters said: “People heard a high-revving motorcycle and saw two men without crash helmets on a motorbike.
“One witness said the motorbike came out of nowhere.”
An off-duty hospital registrar and a retired paramedic were quickly on the scene but Mr Lewis could not be saved.
Walmsley was flown to hospital by air ambulance and suffered “life changing” injuries in the crash last April.
The two cousins grew up just a street apart in Aberfan.
The court heard Mr Lewis’ family have been unable to forgive him a year after the fatal crash.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Lewis’ mother Ann Lewis said: “Why is my son 6ft under when the rider of the bike is able to get on with his life?
“He is laughing and out with his friends. It’s as if he doesn’t care that Andrew was taken from us.”
The court heard Walmsley was on license after being released early from prison after committing a robbery in 2015. He was not licensed to ride the motorbike, had no insurance, no MOT and was narrowly over the drink-drive limit.
Lucy Crowther, defending, said Walmsley had shown genuine remorse at the death of Mr Lewis.
She said: “He has said he wishes he was dead and not his cousin.
“He didn’t set out to do this. It was a tragic accident which should never have happened.”
Walmsley was jailed for three years and four months.
Judge Richard Twomlow told him: “Andrew was a relative and a friend I accept you feel remorse.
“But you carried out an extremely dangerous manoeuvre while driving with alcohol and drugs in your system.”
Walmsley, of Canonbie Crescent, Aberfan, was banned from driving for four years and eight months.