A Bolton man who raced at tandem down residential streets has been jailed for 11 years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Adam Ross (30) of Daisy Street, was sentenced yesterday at Bolton Crown Court, following a lengthy investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU).
Ross was found guilty earlier in November, following a trial at the same court in relation to a fatal road traffic collision back in September 2019.
Erratic driving
On September 20, 2019 at around 10pm, Ross and Daniel Salvin, who previously pleaded guilty to also causing death by dangerous driving, were both driving erratically through residential streets of Westhoughton, Bolton.
Both vehicles reached speeds of twice the legal speed limit and in excess of 60mph, which included residential areas, and drove in tandem, overtaking other road users and using it as their own personal racetrack before the fatal collision on Rishton Lane.
A Vauxhall Vectra, driven by Salvin, was the only vehicle that collided with a pedestrian, John Richardson, on Rishton Lane. The second vehicle Volkswagen Golf was driven by Ross.
Following the collision, both vehicles left the scene and John died due to extent of his injuries the week after.
Salvin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years and four months in November 2019 after attempts were made to set fire to his vehicle that was later extinguished and forensically recovered with damage consistent of being involved in a collision.
No remorse
Police sergeant Andrew Page said: “Today is the conclusion of a four year investigation and I hope this sentence can provide some more closure to the family of John. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank John’s family for their patience and dignity throughout this investigation.
“Ross, has shown no remorse at any point since the fateful collision and today he has seen the consequences of his actions. He failed to stop at the scene and continued to evade police for several months after engaging in dangerous driving with Salvin and has denied his involvement in the collision ever since. Blatantly lying when someone sadly lost their life when they should have been safe.
“He even resorted to blaming his best friend, who sadly passed away since the collision, in a distasteful attempt to distance himself from his actions that night.
“Today’s result is extremely poignant in terms of its timing due to Road Safety Week, which gives us an opportunity to remind all road users to abide by the law and think of the severe consequences selfish actions can have on innocent members of the public.
“I hope this case highlights the hard work our officers will go to in order to bring offenders to justice who use the road network in Greater Manchester illegally.”