Teen driver who caused friends' deaths after inhaling laughing gas jailed

  • ITV News Meridian's Ciaran Fitzpatrick looks into the background of the case, and the moments leading up to what police described as a "tragic event".

A young driver who inhaled laughing gas from a balloon as he sped through an Oxfordshire village before crashing into a tree and causing the deaths of three friends has been jailed for nine years and four months.

Thomas Johnson, 19, was driving his BMW at just under 100mph when he lost control as he drove around a bend in Marcham in the early hours of 20 June 2023.

Elliot Pullen, 17, Daniel Hancock, 18 and Ethan Goddard, 18, all died at the scene. Thomas Johnson was seriously injured.

A total of nine canisters of laughing gas were found in the car by police.

Thomas Johnson was also banned from driving for 11 years and 11 weeks Credit: Thames Valley Police

Speaking at Oxford Crown Court, Her Honour Judge Emma Nott told Mr Johnson: "You didn’t escape serious consequences, you will forever be defined by your teenage mistakes but also get the chance to rewrite that definition.”

Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Bill Khindey said: “Thomas Johnson’s disregard for the safety of others that night was clear. His dangerous driving had devastating consequences – tragically cutting short the lives of three young men. This is a responsibility he must reflect on as he serves his time in prison.

“We recognise that no sentence can alleviate the pain suffered by the families of Elliot, Ethan and Daniel, and our thoughts remain with them.”

Mobile phone footage released by Thames Valley Police showed Mr Johnson doing the now banned nitrous oxide while driving his car moments before the crash.

During a police interview, Mr Johnson was shown a photo appearing to show him inhaling laughing gas while driving. Credit: Thames Valley Police

DS Tony Jenkins, from Thames Valley Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said that bend is known locally as a sharp bend, commenting "it was impossible to take that bend at that speed."

Jenkins said it's a "tragic event" and could have been avoided. "One of the friends that night decided to not go out for a drive with them in the car, that's quite impactful to me.

"He chose to say no. Didn't go out, because at that point they were having fun - doing what some young people do."

Mr Johnson suffered life-threatening injuries and spent months in hospital recovering. When he was interviewed by police and questioned about this picture, he said he had "no recollection" but told officers "it's not something I would do...to endanger my friends."

  • Custody interview with Thomas Johnson whose injuries mean he has very little recollection of the past 12 months

Following the sentencing, the families of the three teenagers paid tribute.

Elliot Pullen was described as having "an amazingly bright future ahead...cut short by this awful tragedy."

Ethan Goddard was "loved so very much and made his family so proud of the young man he was turning out to be."

Daniel Hancock's family said “his absence is felt deeply by so many people. He is irreplaceable.”

  • Statements were read out outside court by the three victims' families

Detective Sergeant Tony Jenkins added: “This was without a doubt one of the most catastrophic and tragic collisions I have ever investigated.

“The speeds at which Johnson was driving were staggering, particularly given the road he was driving on.”

He added: “Ethan, Elliot and Daniel stood no chance. They were simply enjoying a night out, and their lives were needlessly and tragically cut short by Johnson’s actions.

“Johnson alone was responsible for these tragic deaths. He will have to live with the consequences of his decisions that night for the rest of his life.”

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