Teen driver who killed beautiful girlfriend, 17, in horror VW Golf crash that broke his back faces years in prison
A teenage driver who killed his beautiful girlfriend in a crash along a country road is facing years behind bars.
A teenage driver who killed his beautiful girlfriend in a crash along a country road is facing years behind bars.
Logan Addison, 19, caused the death of Lily-May Vaughan, 17, after he lost control of his Volkswagen Golf near Shawbury Heath, Shropshire, on February 4, 2023.
Witnesses at the time described him going fast as f*** and in a flash of a blur before he demolished a hedge, a fence and an electricity pole, which snapped in two.
After this, the car flipped over on its roof, with Lily-May being pronounced dead at the scene on the A53 despite wearing a seatbelt.
The Addison, who was 17 at the time and was not wearing a seatbelt, broke his back in seven places and fractured his neck in the collision.
Yesterday, a jury took two hours and five minutes to find him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He had already admitted causing death by careless driving.
Judge Deni Mathews asked the public gallery, full of family members of both Miss Vaughan and Addison, to maintain dignified silence before the verdict was delivered.
He adjourned his sentence to May 15, saying he must be prepared for a significant custodial sentence and bailed Addison, of Shawbury, Shropshire, until that date.
Lily-May Vaughan, 17, died following a crash with her boyfriends Volkswagen Golf
Logan Addison, 19, pictured, caused the death of Lily-May Vaughan, 17, after he lost control of his Volkswagen Golf near Shawbury Heath, Shropshire
The crash happened on the A53 near Shawbury, Shropshire, at 12:10pm on February 4
The court heard the defendant revved, dumped the clutch and wheel-spun away from the Shawbury town centre traffic lights onto a 1.2-mile road, known locally as Parrys Lane.
Another motorist, Harrison Cowley, told police at the scene that Addison was going like f***.
A police collision investigator, PC Sarah Fraser-Smith, said it was likely that Addison was travelling above the 60 mph speed limit, but could not give an accurate estimate of his speed.
However, Addison has always maintained that he was going at 50-55mph, no more than 60 and said Mr Cowley pulled out on him, and he had no option other than to swerve.
Giving evidence, Addison told the court: He played the biggest part in this.
Less than two months after Miss Vaughans death, on March 26, Addison was driving a Mazda MX5 without due care and attention at a park and ride.
And just days later, he was caught with a Milwaukee flip lock knife in Newport, Shropshire.
He was also caught driving a Rover Metro in Shrewsbury while disqualified in August 2023.
The court heard the defendant revved, dumped the clutch and wheel-spun away from the Shawbury town centre traffic lights onto a 1.2 mile road, known locally as Parrys Lane
Addison was sentenced for those matters last August at Telford Magistrates Court, where he received eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.
He was also given a six-month road ban, a two-year community order including a mental health treatment programme, 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.
After the hearing, Lily-Mays mother Leanne, stepfather, Andy and other family members spoke outside court.
Leanne said: She was killed on February 4, 2023. It has been two years of absolute hell. She was the light of our lives.
She was such a beautiful daughter and meant the world to us. Its wrong that a girl with the world at her feet can be just killed like that.
Justice has been done today. I would like to thank the jury for their hard work. Today has shown me there is some good in the world.
I think she was too good for this world. She always wanted to help people. She loved animals.
Since she could talk she said she wanted a dog. In lockdown, she got Sadie, who was her little shadow.
Addison of Shawbury, Shropshire, will be sentenced on May 15, and the Judge told him he must be prepared for a significant custodial sentence and bailed him until that date
She loved her family. There is a massive hole in our family.
I want this to be a message: that driving is a privilege. Maybe it will make people stop and think.
The youth need to be educated. Well keep campaigning for graduated driving licences.
Speaking at the time of her death, Lily-Mays family also described her as a beautiful, kind and caring young lady.
They said: We are heartbroken following the incident and the loss of our angel Lily-May.
She was a beautiful, kind, happy, caring and loving person who leaves behind a family that loves her dearly and wholl will miss her each and every day she is no longer with us.
We are still coming to terms with the devastating loss of a 17-year-old young lady with the world at her feet and we ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time whilst the police continue their investigation.