An uninsured driver killed a Wigan man when he smashed into him in a 'crude' 7.5 tonne campervan conversion.
Joseph Keane, 28, suffered fatal injuries when the Peugeot car he was a passenger in was hit by Adam Kershaw’s vehicle on the A65 near Ingleton on July 13 last year.
Following the incident, Kershaw's friend, Shane Hughes, drove away from the scene in a decommissioned ambulance which he then crashed onto a railway level crossing.
Hughes was jailed for 22 months last November by a judge who told him it was the worst case of dangerous driving he had seen in his career.
The pair had been on their way to a festival, ExaminerLive reports.
Today (Friday) Kershaw, 29, from Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, who was driving the campervan conversion, admitted causing Mr Keane’s death by dangerous driving at Bradford Crown Court.
More than a dozen members of Mr Keane’s family attended the hearing today and were allowed to sit in the jury box while Kershaw entered his pleas.
Kershaw also admitted causing his death by driving while uninsured and otherwise than in accordance with a licence as well as possessing various drugs in the same day as the crash.
Judge Jonathan Rose decided that a pre-sentence report had to be prepared on Kershaw after he pointed out that the maximum sentence he could impose was 14 years in prison.
The judge expressed his condolences to Mr Keane’s family and apologised for the fact that the sentencing hearing would not take place until December 31.
“You have pleaded guilty to six offences arising out of the events of the 13th of July last year,” the judge told Kershaw.
“The principal offence though is your driving that caused the death of a young man who had everything to live for and a very bright and promising future ahead of him.”
The judge said the seriousness of his crimes could not be overstated.
Judge Rose said the circumstances of Kershaw’s driving meant the case fell towards the upper end of the spell in prison he could impose and he remanded him in custody to await his sentence on New Year’s Eve.
“Be under no illusions the sentence I will pass on you on the 31st will be a very substantial one. Close to the maximum for this offence, subject of course to the credit that will be given for your pleas indicated in the lower court,” the judge told Kershaw.
Following Mr Keane’s death last year his family released a statement in which was described as a kind, considerate and loving person.
“His loss has left us bereft and the only comfort we have is being surrounded by the people who loved him most,” they said.
“He was such a special, beautiful person, we were enriched by his presence and the pain of his loss means our lives will never be the same again.”
