Newly Licensed Teen Kills Best Friend in Tragic Crash, Sentenced to 5 Years

In a tragic turn of events, a 19-year-old British teenager has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for causing the death of his 17-year-old best friend in a car accident. The incident occurred on November 11, 2023, just 24 hours after Corey Owen-Cooper had passed his driving test.

According to the police, Owen-Cooper was "embracing his new-found freedom" and had gone out with friends to socialize in their vehicles. Witnesses reported that he had been driving recklessly, performing dangerous maneuvers like "donuts" and speeding at alarming rates. Tragically, as Owen-Cooper was driving, he misjudged a bend in the road, causing the car to leave the carriageway and collide with barriers, flipping the vehicle onto its roof.

The crash claimed the life of Joshua Atkins, who was the front passenger in the car. Atkins died three days later, despite the efforts of emergency responders to save him. Another passenger, Gabriel Wiggett, suffered serious injuries and required extensive hospital treatment.

Owen-Cooper's first words after the crash were, "I think I have killed him... I have killed my best friend." An investigation by the Serious Collisions Unit concluded that the accident was caused by Owen-Cooper's excessive speed.

In addition to the 5-year prison sentence, Owen-Cooper has also been disqualified from driving for over 7 years and ordered to sit an extended retest. The victim's family has expressed their grief and is now "striving for change, and urging young drivers to be aware of the level of responsibility that comes with being a driver and on the road."

Despite the tragic loss, Atkins' legacy lives on, as his organs have since saved four lives through donation. The heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of responsible behavior behind the wheel.