Drunk Driver Sentenced for Fatal Crash

0:00On March 24, a 23-year-old student named Matthew Bennett has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of his friend in, a high-speed car crash. The incident happened in April 2023 on a dark-country road in Lancashire. Bennett was driving his Audi at around 70 miles per hour, well over the 40 miles per hour limit after drinking heavily. Earlier that evening, the two old-school friends had met up at a pub in Parbold. They shared six pints in the beer garden before Bennett grabbed an extra bottle of logger and headed out. He then drove to a nearby McDonald's drive-through while under the influence, making his way toward Newberg on a familiar unlit lane. Christopher Trump, the 20-year-old passenger from Wigan, died at the scene from severe injuries after the car hit trees and flipped. Bennett, who already had points on his license for speeding, suffered serious injuries too and was in a coma for weeks. His family described Christopher as a bright, likable young man they deeply miss. During the trial at Preston Crown Court in January, Bennett pleaded not guilty and even questioned

1:04if he was behind the wheel, despite clear evidence. From pub CCTV showing him driving, the jury convicted him of causing death by dangerous driving after a six-day hearing. Lancashire police stressed that the crash was entirely preventable, highlighting the deadly risks of mixing alcohol, speed, and dark roads. Things like this underscore why drink-driving remains a serious crime that destroys lives.