In a tragic incident, a novice driver, Adam Ali, aged 19, killed 16-year-old Ben Burbidge while driving at 69 mph in a residential area. This occurred on October 15, 2022, while Ali was set to attend a speed awareness course after previous speeding offenses.

Ali, a university student from Audenshaw, had only received his driving license in May 2022. Despite being caught speeding and misusing his car horn earlier, he was enrolled in a retraining programme instead of being fined.

On the day of the accident, Ali drove recklessly in his Vauxhall Corsa, reportedly trying to impress his friends. The crash resulted in fatal injuries for Ben, who was in the backseat, while another passenger sustained serious injuries and the third escaped unharmed.

Ali expressed remorse during questioning and wrote to Ben's parents, stating his anguish and regret over the accident. Nevertheless, he continued to exhibit reckless behavior, being caught speeding and causing another accident while banned from driving.

During the sentencing at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Judge Neil Usher criticized Ali's lack of genuine remorse, highlighting his continued disregard for the law and public safety.

Details of the Tragic Crash

The fatal collision occurred in Audenshaw at 7:55 PM. Witnesses noted that the car was traveling at excessive speeds—averaging between 61 and 69 mph—despite the damp road conditions.

Miss Gwen Henshaw, the prosecutor, confirmed that had Ali been within the speed limit, he could have avoided crashing into a lamppost following a loss of control.

Impact on Victim's Family

In a poignant victim impact statement, Ben's sister, Bethan Redman, expressed her devastation, describing her brother as a vibrant young man with immense potential. His loss has left his family shattered.

Ben's mother, Lindsey, described her nightly nightmares and the unbearable pain of losing her son. She stated that the grief of his loss is something she cannot escape.

In 2023, Ali faced further legal consequences as he was disqualified from driving after multiple speeding offenses. This disqualification will take effect upon his release from a four-year prison sentence for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Ali's counsel claimed the accident was due to inexperience rather than irresponsibility, asserting that Ali had been affected by the loss as well.