He ignored his friends' pleas - and killed one of them

A man who drove at speeds of up to 90mph ignored pleas to slow down before crashing into a tree and killing his friend.

Three other people travelling in his car were also left seriously injured. Finley Wood, 21, lost control of his Ford Fiesta and ploughed into a tree, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Felix Davies.

Wood had left the pub to drive him and his four friends, including Felix, to the Nantwich Jazz Festival in Cheshire. During the ten-mile journey on Sunday, April 9, Finley's Fiesta was travelling on the A525 when it crossed onto the other side of the road near Combermere Abbey, almost hitting an oncoming vehicle.

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Wood then lost control on a bend and crashed into a tree. Today (Friday) he was jailed for ten years and six months at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and three counts of causing injury by dangerous driving.

Felix, who had been in the front passenger seat of the Fiesta, was declared dead at the scene. The three rear seat passengers were all left with serious injuries and rushed to hospital.

One suffered a broken sternum and spinal injuries while another suffered a dislocated hip, chipped femur, four broken ribs, bruised liver and broken orbital socket along with his nose and cheekbone. The third passenger was left with a broken leg and facial injuries.

Wood sustained minor injuries from the crash and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A roadside drug and alcohol test was negative.

The surviving passengers told police officers that Wood's driving was too fast for the road, with the Fiesta reportedly reaching speeds of 90mph as they pleaded with him to slow down.

Insp Steve Griffiths, said: "When Finley's friends got into that Ford Fiesta on the evening of Sunday 9 April, they were looking forward to an evening of bank holiday festivities at the Nantwich Jazz Festival - they were not to know the serious, and in Felix's case fatal, injuries they would sustain a short time later as a direct result of Finley Woods dangerous driving.

"When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you need to be aware that driving is a privilege, not a right, and nothing justifies not paying full attention to the road or abusing its laws. I understand that, while Wood is now behind bars for this offence, nothing is going to bring Felix back, and our thoughts continue to remain with his family and friends.

"This collision could easily have been avoided, so if any good can come from this tragic event, I hope it reminds people of the sudden devastating consequences of taking risks when driving."