Scarborough driver convicted of killing teenage friend in crash

A driver has been convicted of causing the death of his teenage friend who was a passenger in his car when it crashed.

Jack Tomlinson, 21, from Scarborough, was over the legal limit for alcohol and cannabis when he crashed into a tree in the North York Moors National Park on August 13, 2021.

Harry Coopland, 18, was traveling in the car with Tomlinson and suffered serious head injuries. He died in hospital two days later.

Tomlinson admitted causing death by driving and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at York Crown Court on Thursday.

The court heard Tomlinson, of Farside Road, West Ayton, had been drinking in a pub with friends before deciding to collect his car and drive to Dalby Forest.

Mr Coopland was one of four passengers in the red Citroen, which North Yorkshire Police said was driven “erratically and aggressively”.

The car later left the road at Langdale End and crashed near St Athanasius Monastery.

Mr Coopland was killed in the crash and three other passengers were injured.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Coopland’s family described him as “a shining beacon of life, with a tremendous sense of humour”.

“He was a loving member of our family with a very good heart and it was an absolute pleasure to be with him.

“We mourn Harry and the life he could and should have had, the bright future that lay ahead of him and we mourn our family, the yawning abyss that is now part of our lives and with us forever.”

A 16-year-old girl, who was also a passenger in the car, lost her hand in the collision.

An 18-year-old man suffered three fractures to his spine and a 15-year-old girl suffered a facial wound, according to police.

“Harry had his whole life ahead of him but it was needlessly taken from him and his family’s lives have been changed forever,” a police spokesman said.

“It is a stark reminder of the dangers and catastrophic consequences of drinking, drugging and getting behind the wheel.”

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