Joseph Pickett, 20, was driving three pals home from McDonald’s when he lost control of his BMW and crashed into nearby trees on a bend – killing Laionie Kennard, 18, who was sitting in the back
A young soldier killed a teenage girl after he sped home from McDonald’s just three weeks after passing his driving test, a court has heard.
Joseph Pickett, 20, was driving his three pals home from a trip to the fast food restaurant when he lost control of his BMW on the 30mph road at between 43mph and 54mph, and crashed into nearby trees on a bend. Laionie Kennard, 18, who was sat in the back of the car, died at the scene from head injuries.
Pickett, who was also 18 at the time, suffered minor injuries along with his girlfriend Edy Herridge and friend William Green. Ms Kennard’s dad David, 42, rushed to the scene of the crash on September 16 last year after the teenager’s phone sent an SOS activation, alerting him to the accident at Ringwood, Dorset.
A now 20-year-old Pickett, who is serving at MoD Lyneham in Wiltshire, faces jail after admitting causing death by careless driving.
The case has sparked further debate on the issue of new laws for novice drivers, which includes proposals to ban them from giving lifts to passengers. A group of bereaved parents who have lost their children to similar cases of dangerous driving are being backed by the AA in campaigning for the introduction of “graduated” driving licensing for new drivers.
Ms Kennard’s parents, Kelly Kennard, 40, and David, are backing the Forget-me-not Families’ group. Mrs Kennard said: “If [Pickett] hadn’t had any passengers, he wouldn’t have driven like he did. New drivers should have more experience behind them, like six months.”
David Finney, prosecuting, said: “There was a massive impact. The vehicle was embedded in trees and shrubbery. Laionie was trapped and had to be extracted by fire and rescue but was pronounced dead at the scene. [Pickett] said he didn’t have his full beams on, visibility was poor and the corner jumped out on him.”
Poole Magistrates Court heard on Friday that Pickett had failed a roadside breath test, although a full toxicology test a few hours later showed no alcohol in his system.
Mr Finney added that Pickett’s driving had fallen “just below the threshold for dangerous driving” and that he should be sentenced at crown court.
