Driver jailed following “catastrophic decision” to drive, killing one and injuring another

David Farrow decided to drink and consume drugs on Thursday 21 September and into the early hours of the next day; he then made a catastrophic decision to drive.

Residents living in Riseholme Road, Gainsborough, were woken up by the noise of a collision just after 2.30am on Friday 22 September; they saw the driver, Farrow, and a passenger running away from the wreckage.

Farrow’s actions killed one man and seriously injured a teenage boy.

Farrow, 39, of Haltham Green, Gainsborough, was sentenced today (Monday, 24 June) at Lincoln Crown Court to 10 years and eight months in prison, and disqualified from driving for 13 years and four months.

At the time of the collision Farrow had been driving a black Peugeot car which crashed into two parked cars in Riseholme Road. He fled the scene, leaving two rear seat passengers with serious injuries; witnesses recall hearing him say his passengers were dead as he was running from the devastation he had caused. Farrow had taken the car without the permission of the owner. 

Following the collision, the rear seat passengers were taken to hospital. Sadly, 38-year-old Mark Turner died from his injuries. The second passenger, who was 15 years old at the time, suffered serious injuries.

The court heard Farrow was located and arrested soon after the collision. 

Blood tests showed he had alcohol and drugs in his system when he was arrested, although it was not possible to determine the levels at the time of the collision.

Just five minutes before the fatal crash, Farrow, along with two other passengers and Mark Turner, was seen to get into the black Peugeot, close to Mr Turner’s house. Farrow drove the car and could be seen on CCTV to mount kerbs as he negotiated corners. At at one point, he veered over to the oncoming lane and collided with vehicles that were parked on the side of the road. As he continued the journey, he drove through a red traffic light.

A short time later, the black Peugeot was seen travelling along Riseholme Road where it veered into the opposing lane and collided with two parked unattended cars, a VW Polo and Audi A3. The Peugeot span out of control and rotated 300° before coming to rest in the junction with Linwood Close. It was at this point Farrow and his front seat passenger fled the scene.

The total journey from leaving Portland Terrace to the collision was just 1.35 miles and took only five minutes.

Farrow was charged with causing the death of Mark Turner by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. He had pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing and was today sentenced to 10 years and 8 months, and disqualified from driving for 13 years and four months.  

He was also given a two year and eight month sentence for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and a 12 month sentence for aggravated vehicle taking, both of which are to run concurrently.  

Detective Sergeant James Perring, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, Lincolnshire Police, said: “Farrow’s decisions that day led to the most devastating of consequences. He ignored the safety of his passengers and any other road users. He took the car knowing he did not have permission to do so.

"He ran from the scene, leaving his passengers in the rear seat seriously injured. He made no attempt to call for help or for any sort of medical aid. There are no words that can account for his actions.

"He will have known he was in no fit state to drive and the decisions he made have cost a 38-year-old man his life. My condolences go to Mark’s family and friends.”

Pictured: David Farrow