‘Petrol-head’ killed his girlfriend in car crash after losing control of his souped-up motor
University student died after her boyfriend ignored the car dealer's advice on how to handle his new vehicle
A “PETROL-head” killed his girlfriend in a crash after losing control of his souped-up car.
University law student Elizabeth Buckley, 19, had only been going out with Thomas McDonough, 22, for a fortnight.
He ignored the dealer’s warnings to apply traction control when he “put his foot down”, Liverpool crown court heard.
McDonough also made modifications to the vehicle - doubling the horse power , which meant he was unable to see the speedometer.
The maniac driver was doing 60mph- twice the speed limit - when he ploughed into a lamppost and then a tree - leaving his pretty passenger to take the brunt of the impact.
The court heard he was trying to “show off” to Elizabeth - and Judge Clement Goldstone QC described McDonough as a “a petrol head” whose driving carried “an obvious and substantial risk of danger.”
McDonough, 22, is now starting a 40-month jail term after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Before passing sentence, the judge heard a heartbreaking impact statement from Elizabeth’s mum Karen.
She said: “On 2 December 2015 at 23.30 pm I received what every parents dreads and fears and had a knock on the door from the police and informed my beautiful girl had been in a car accident and was dead.
“I was taken to hospital to identify the body of my only child.
“I’m still heartbroken.
“How could this happened, why my girl?
“I went to sit with her every day (at funeral home) because I did not want her to be frightened on her own.
“On December 17 she was carried by horse drawn carriage and buried in the cemetery next to the field where she would feed the donkeys as a child.
“I have been unable to work since the accident.
“I am lots of medication, I have panic attacks and anxiety and struggle to do tasks.
“Several times I have had to leave my shopping in the supermarket when I saw things I would have bought her.
“My life has shrunk without her.
“I cannot go anywhere I used to go with her.
“I used to be the life and soul and now I rarely go out.
“I have flashbacks and have had trauma therapy.
“I have contemplated suicide on more than one occasion but I cannot do it because it would be a betrayal of her and cause more pain to my family and friends.
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“I wish every day I could forget and not have to live with this pain.
“Never again will I be called mum or be a grandparent.
“Thomas McDonough had a duty of care towards Elizabeth when she got in his car, which he disregarded.
“She had her whole life in front of her.
“She was beautiful inside and out.
"She lit up the room with her smile.
“She was funny, quirky, loyal and clever and boy did she have attitude, but she has had that all taken away from her, the chance to live her life.
“She will never fall in love and I will never hold my own baby’s baby in my arms.
“My life is poorer without her, it was an honour and privilege to have called her my daughter.”
The judge told McDonough that Elizabeth was “a star pupil, she was a star daughter and she had her life ahead of her, you destroyed it all in a moment of madness.”