Grieving mother calls for ban on teenagers driving their friends after her son and two others were killed in horrifying crash with bus on way back from funeral
A grieving mother has called for teenagers to be banned from driving friends after losing her son to a horrifying crash with a bus.
A grieving mother has called for teenagers to be banned from driving friends after losing her son to a horrifying crash with a bus.
Callum Griffiths, 19 was travelling with his friends Jesse Owen, 18 and Morgan Smith, 18 when all three were killed by the collision. The driver, Jesse, was over the drink-drive limit, while the Audi A1 was carrying more passengers than it was built for, an inquest heard.
Callums mother Natalie blamed the nations outdated driving licence system, which she backed reforming into a graduated model to restrict young men from being able to carry passengers of a similar age.
She said: One in five drivers crash within the first year. Newly-qualified drivers under the age of 25 who drive with peer-age passengers are four times more likely to have a fatal crash. Seven out of 10 crashes that occur on our roads involve a young driver.
We spent the early months of our grief not just trying to get up every day and live a life that continues, an everlasting void that can never be filled, but also ensuring Callums life and legacy in aid of 2Wish Cymru continues.
Natalie Griffiths giving a statement following the inquest into the deaths of her son Callum and two friends. She said teenagers should be banned from driving with friends in a graduated licencing system
Up-and-coming boxer Callum Griffiths, 19, also died in the crash on December 11, 2023
Driver Jesse Owen, 18, was over the legal drink-drive limit when his car, which was carrying more passengers than for what it was designed, crashed into a bus, killing him and two friends
We have also been campaigning for some version of a British graduated driving licence which has been used in other countries around the world to save up to 40% of lives lost. It would reduce peer pressure on teenagers to take passengers.
She added: We will not let Callum be just another statistic - a story people read and forget. No-one ever believes it will happen to them - we certainly did not, until it did. We urge everyone to sign the petiton to bring in changes. Callum was an inspiration and an achiever. He achieved so much in such a space period of time.
It comes months after the AA proposed a similar scheme, that would see drivers build up experience on rural roads, at night and in various weather conditions before taking their test.
Drivers would also be prevented from taking peer-age passengers for their first six months on the road.
Its president Edmund King said young people were being needlessly killed due to a lack of experience on the road, in what he termed a national crisis.
The three young friends were killed travelling home from a funeral when their car split in half after hitting a bus, an inquest heard on Friday.
Jesse was killed in the collision alongside champion kickboxer Callum Griffiths, 19, and Morgan Smith 18, who all died from blunt force injuries after he was seen driving at very high speed in the car with personalised number plates and blacked out windows.
The collision happened in Coedely, near Tonyrefail, on December 11 last year.
The inquest heard the six had been to a funeral for the father of front seat passenger Ellis Williams before going on to a pub and a working mans club where they drank three pints each.
Morgan Smith, 18 was travelling in the Audi A1 on the way back from a funeral when it split in half after colliding with a bus
Pictured: A map of the area where the horror crash occurred last December in south Wales
Survivor Ellis said in a statement that he remembered Jesse driving fast before coming to a bend where they saw the bus coming straight towards them.
Ellis said: I didnt take much notice of what the boys were drinking, because it was my fathers funeral.
Jesse was going to drive us. He wasnt going to come out with us as he had work in the morning.
They were big lads so they would have been sat on top of each other in the back.
I put my belt on, I dont know if the boys in the back had their seatbelts on. I dont know if Jesse was wearing a seatbelt. I didnt take any notice.
Ellis said: I thought Jesse was going fast, but I didnt worry. We went around the bend and I heard Sam say woah woah before the bend.
I didnt realise what was happening I looked to my right and I could see Jesse looked scared.
A car kicked out around the corner and Jesse tried to get back in.
We knew we were all going to hit the bus - I held the side door.
As we hit the bus Jesses side made the first contact with the bus. My airbag went off and I hit my head on it.
I looked to my right and nobody was sat next to me. I looked behind and none of the boys were there. The car was split in half it was in two parts.
I could hear people screaming. I didnt see where anyone was thrown.
In the statement to police Ellis told how he walked around the crash scene and saw his friends on the ground.
The inquest heard that before the crash Jesse had texted his mum to say his friends were going to Cardiff as he would not go out drinking because he had work the following day.
However the Pontypridd hearing was told a post-mortem examination found he had 113mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit being 80mg.
A barmaid said she served the group at least three drinks each.
The family of Callum Griffiths paid tribute to the world champion in kickboxing, who had also represented Wales in competitions all over the world
They had been in the car together on the way back from the funeral when it crashed with the Stagecoach bus at Coedely, near Tonyrefail, on December 11 last year.
In a statement, Jesses parents said he was a careful and considerate driver who they did not think would have acted recklessly behind the wheel.
But witnesses said they were shocked at the speed of the Audi A1 as it travelled through the roads of South Wales Valleys moments before the crash.
Huw John said he was walking his dog when a friend pointed out the car saying: Look at the f***ing speed that is travelling at.
Mr John said he recognised the personalised plates of the car as it flew past us as belonging to Jesse before it went out of site.
He added: I remember thinking Jesus Christ that car was driving too fast.
Jesses father Justin said despite his son being a relatively new driver he was experienced behind the wheel and competent.
He said: We can honestly say he was a safe and careful, considerate driver. Living in a small community if he was driving anti-socially we would have heard about it.
If speed was a factor we would be surprised by that as Jesse was just not known for driving like that by us or anyone we know.
We trusted Jesse because we knew him as a person and we knew his character. He was a good person with a kind, generous heart and a loyal friend.
He said that he knew Jesse and his friends were going to a wake, but Jesse only ever drank occasionally and was not a big drinker.
He added: We do not feel he would have consumed anywhere near the legal limit of alcohol, because we spoke about drink driving and the dangers of it all his life.
He may have had one or two drinks but when Claire texted him after the service he said he was taking the boys to Cardiff, but he wasnt drinking with them as he had work in the morning.
The other two survivors were named as Sam Griffiths, 18, and Lucas Vaughan, 19.
Callum, of from Porth, died from a head injury at 8pm while Morgan, of Clydach Vale, died at 8.09m from injuries to the face and neck.
Driver Jesse, of Penygraid, died of injuries to the head and chest.
The hearing, in Pontypridd, continues.
In tributes issued through police, Jesses family said he had a presence that would light up any room.
They added: He was loved by all who had the honour of knowing him. He was the most loving, happy kind, calm and beautiful soul.
He would do absolutely anything for anyone. He loved his family and friends and was loyal to the core.
Jesse loved his boxing, watches and socialising with friends.
He has left a huge void in all of our hearts and our lives will never be the same without him.
He will be sorely missed by his parents, grandparents, brothers and extended family.
We are all truly heartbroken.
Morgans family described him as a popular boy and a well-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.
They said: Morgan was best known as a talented boxer previously gaining a Welsh title. He was an up-and-coming star with a promising boxing career ahead of him.
We as a family are devastated by the loss of Morgan, we have been left with a void that can never be filled We love you our boy.
We would like to thank all the emergency services that assisted at the scene.
Please could you respect our privacy whilst we grieve the loss of Morgan.
Shortly after the tragedy, Morgans family gathered in the village of Coedely near Tonyrefail, just four miles from their homes in the Tonypandy area of Rhondda.
Speaking at the scene his aunt Amy Smith said: At any time of year it would be be heartbreaking but more at this time of year.
We cant celebrate Christmas this year. But we will be together and will try our best.
She added: He was a lovely caring boy liked by everybody. He didnt have a bad word to say about anyone.
The family of Callum Griffiths, 19, from Porth, his mother Natalie, father Lee and Callums 15-year-old sister Erin, said: Callum had the most beautiful smile that would light up the room. He was the most precious gift of a son and our love is endless.
Our hearts have been broken into a million pieces, broken beyond repair. He was so loving and had a caring soul. He has left a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled.
Callum was a world champion in Kickboxing and achieved numerous Gold medals and has represented Wales in different countries all over the world.
Callum qualified as a barber just over a year ago. He was a passionate, hard-working and a dedicated barber. And we are so very proud of him. We are proud of everything hes achieved.
We love you Champ.
A joint statement issued by the teenagers former schools at the time said: The school communities of Porth Community School, Tonyrefail Community School and Ysgol Nantgwyn are completely devastated by the news that former pupils were involved in a fatal incident yesterday evening in Coedely.
Pupils and staff at from all our schools send their heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the former pupils who have died.
