A teen driver lost control while impressing a passenger, leading to a serious crash with a Jaguar and life-altering injuries for all involved
Newcastle Emlyn: So, there was this teen driver, Gareth Jones, who was trying to impress his female passenger. He was speeding around a bend when he lost control and crashed into a red Jaguar. It was a pretty serious accident.
Gareth, just 17 at the time, was driving a white Dacia. The crash left both his passenger and the Jaguar driver with some life-changing injuries. Dashcam footage showed him taking the corner at 49 mph, which is way too fast.
The judge at Swansea Crown Court didn’t hold back, calling Gareth’s driving “utterly ridiculous.” But since he was young, he avoided immediate jail time. The crash happened on May 30, 2023, on the B4333 road.
After the crash, the Jaguar driver got out and talked to Gareth, who admitted he was going too fast. The speed limit there was 60 mph, but clearly, that didn’t help. The Jaguar driver ended up with whiplash and a bleed on the brain, which landed him in the hospital.
Gareth’s passenger had it rough too, suffering a laceration to her liver and a fractured vertebra. She had to wear a back brace for three months. Both of them are dealing with the aftermath, including anxiety and nightmares.
Now 19, Gareth had just passed his driving test three months before the crash. He’s been studying at Gower College and knows he messed up big time. The judge gave him an 18-month suspended sentence, ordered him to do community service, and banned him from driving for three years.
It’s a tough lesson learned, but it’s a reminder of how dangerous it can be to show off behind the wheel.
