A teenage driver has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for causing the death of a 17-year-old girl by dangerous driving. Leon Callaghan, 19, was speeding at approximately 113 mph when he lost control of the Seat Ibiza on the M65 motorway near Burnley, Lancashire, early on October 2, 2024.
The vehicle collided with the central reservation, flipped, and crashed, resulting in catastrophic crush injuries for passenger Demi-Leigh Davies, who was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two other passengers, both 17 and 19, sustained serious injuries but have since recovered.
Callaghan, who was 17 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Preston Crown Court. The court heard that Callaghan had been driving a group of friends home after spending an evening in Manchester. A passenger filmed the speedometer showing the car traveling at 114 mph. As Callaghan approached junction nine, he was still traveling at around 113 mph when he attempted to steer back onto the main carriageway from the exit lane, crossing hatched markings and solid white lines.
This maneuver caused him to lose control, leading to the car skidding, striking the central reservation, and rolling multiple times. Three rear-seat passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the vehicle. Passing motorists discovered the wreckage and alerted emergency services. Callaghan, who had approached the motorists for help, was described as being covered in blood.
Paramedics arrived to find police already at the scene. Despite resuscitation efforts, Demi-Leigh Davies was pronounced dead at Royal Blackburn Hospital. A post-mortem examination revealed she died from severe blood loss due to traumatic injuries, including multiple rib fractures, lacerations to internal organs, and fractures to her pelvis and spine.
In a victim impact statement, Demi-Leigh's mother described her daughter as "beautiful, funny, caring and selfless" and stated that her family had been given "a life sentence of grief." She highlighted the pain of knowing her daughter would not experience adulthood, achieve her dreams, or share future milestones.
Callaghan's defense noted he was diagnosed with ADHD and autism, which may have affected his decision-making. He had held a provisional license from age 16 and passed his test on his 17th birthday. Callaghan, now a father expecting a second child, received a driving disqualification of nine years and one month, requiring him to pass an extended re-test.
Detective Constable Olivia Maidment of Lancashire Police stated, "Nothing can ever compensate for the loss of a life, but I hope at least that this sentence gives Demi-Leigh's family some sense that justice has been done."