Share and Follow
A van driver was caught on camera telling police ‘I hope I killed someone’ when he was arrested for killing a teenager after driving through a red light.
Luke Hawkes, 28, drove through the traffic light at high speed, colliding with two vehicles and killing ‘thoughtful and loved’ 19-year-old Bethany Branson instantly on November 18.
In a video from Avon and Somerset Police, Hawkes can be seen driving a white Ford Transit van along the A38 in Bridgwater, Somerset.
Held at Taser-point following the horror smash, Hawkes refused to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
Van driver Luke Hawkes (pictured) was caught on camera telling police ‘I hope I killed someone’ when he was arrested for killing a teenager after driving through a red light
Held at Taser-point following the horror smash, Hawkes refused to provide a specimen of breath for analysis
Bethany Branson (pictured), 19, was killed in the collision. her mother described her as thoughtful and loved
On arrest, he was recorded on bodycam saying: ‘I hope I killed someone. Oh well, you know what, I will get three, four, five years. Hopefully I killed them.’
The court heard how Hawkes was held at Taser-point following the crash and had shown no remorse for his actions, refusing to complete a breathalyser or swab test for drugs and alcohol.
Hawkes, of Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen at a previous hearing.
He was jailed for 10 years and handed a 12 years and seven-month driving disqualification at Taunton Crown Court on Friday.
Judge Paul Cook said: ‘You can tell this was a prolonged, consistent and deliberate course of driving.
‘It was obvious that you where drunk as I have seen the state of your intoxication on a number of videos.
Read Related Also: EXCL: Moment unhinged San Francisco start-up founder screeches at ambulance for blocking cycle lane
‘It was very clear that Bethany was a bubbly and infectious person, destined for a life of giving which has shattered the hearts of the family.
‘You created a sea of carnage and then left. You were then heard saying ‘I’m glad she is dead, she deserved it’ and ‘Hopefully [you] killed someone’.’
In the video, Bethany’s mother Amy said: ‘She was thoughtful, she was loved. She always said growing up that she was here for the good times and not for a long time and it’s heartbreaking that actually she was right.’
The video shows Hawkes’s van driving at high speed through a red light, causing the fatal collision
Judge paul Cook said: ‘It was very clear that Bethany was a bubbly and infectious person, destined for a life of giving which has shattered the hearts of the family’
In the video, Bethany’s mother Amy (pictured with Bethany’s father Ben) said: ‘She was thoughtful, she was loved. She always said growing up that she was here for the good times and not for a long time and it’s heartbreaking that actually she was right’
Hawkes had previously been involved in a minor road traffic collision further up the A38 Taunton Road, near the Showground Roundabout, prior to the fatal collision.
He then left the scene of that collision towards Bridgwater, where he was then involved in the crash that killed Bethany.
A further three people, including Hawkes, sustained minor injuries.
Senior investigating officer, Andrew Roebuck, and family liaison officer, Martin Farnell, said: ‘The family have shown exceptional courage and bravery in speaking so openly about Bethany, who is very clearly loved and cherished by all those who knew her.
‘Bethany was a bubbly and outgoing young lady who had her entire life ahead of her, who dreamed of a career with animals and had a passion for rugby.
‘We hope that this significant sentence for Hawkes gives the family some closure following the devastating loss of their daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, goddaughter and friend.’
