A man who drove over double the speed limit in a stolen car and killed a “loving and caring” 18-year-old in a collision last year has been jailed for over six-and-a-half years.
Connor Matthews aged 23 of Portland Road, Stretford, was jailed yesterday at Manchester Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Matthews was driving a Volkswagen Scirocco on cloned plants on Sunday 10 October last year when he killed 18-year-old Marcus Simmons-Allen, from Broadheath, on George Richards Way in Altrincham.
Officers were called just after 9pm that evening to a report of a collision between a car and pedestrian. Marcus was taken to hospital in critical condition but sadly died the following day.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit immediately launched an investigation and found that Matthews had visited McDonalds in the minutes before the collision, travelled at 65mph on the 30mph-limit George Richards Way and collided with Marcus who was crossing the road with a friend.
Matthews failed to stop at the scene but the vehicle was found by officers near to the collision scene where it was seized for evidence.
Glasses that Matthews was seen to wear at McDonalds were found in the footwell of the vehicle and he was tracked down five days later after officers found he’d contacted Specsavers for new glasses through mobile phone work.
Marcus’ mum, Paula Allen, from Broadheath, said: “Marcus was a truly fab son. He was loving, caring, polite, and would help anybody.
“He was a popular lad who left a mark with everybody who had the pleasure of meeting him. He had a great group of friends, who he shared plenty of laughs and fun.
“Marcus had a lifetime of dreams and ambitions ahead of him. He truly wanted to do something productive with his life and complete an engineering degree and follow a career in engineering. His fab sense of humour was as infectious as his smile.
“We now as a family, extended family are destroyed. Our lives are in tatters. The devastation and loss of Marcus is immeasurable and it’s affected friends, their families and community.
“We would like to thank all emergency services who responded to the incident on George Richards Way, then staff in trauma and ICU at Salford Royal – you gave us the time to say goodbye to our precious son.”
Sergeant Philip Shaw, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said the case was a brutal reminder of the consequences of driving dangerously.
He said: “Marcus had his whole life ahead of him at the young age of 18. He was simply crossing the road with a friend when Matthews was driving at over double the speed limit. Speed limits are there for a reason – they are there to keep people safe and save lives.
“He failed to stop at the scene and left the stolen vehicle abandoned – showing a complete disregard for his actions and Marcus’ life.
“Marcus’ family were and understandably still are, absolutely devastated due to the choices made by Matthews that night. There’s no excuse to drive at excessive speed and I would stress to all drivers to think carefully before speeding. This collision has devastated more than one life.”
