Huddersfield Man Jailed for 10 Years Following Fatal Road Traffic Collision in Kirkburton

Wednesday 24 April, 2024

A man has been jailed for 10 years following a collision which killed an 18-year-old in Kirkburton.

<_o3a_p>

On 12 July 2021 there was a collision on Penistone Road, Kirkburton where a pedestrian was hit by a car and threw into the path of another car in the carriageway. <_o3a_p>

The driver of the Vauxhall Corsa fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. <_o3a_p>

Oliver Pryde, 18, from Cumbria, died at the scene as a result ofhis injuries. <_o3a_p>

Adam Smith, 33, from Huddersfield was later charged with causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs, causing death whilst unlicensed and uninsured. <_o3a_p>

He pleaded not guilty to all offences but following a trial at Leeds Crown Court which lasted six days, he was found guilty of all offences. <_o3a_p>

On22 April he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and disqualified from driving for nine years. <_o3a_p>

Detective Constable Mark Turner, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team,said: "Despite having no driver's licence or insurance and having consumed nearly twice the legal limit of drugs, Smith chose to get behind the wheel of a car with tragic consequences. <_o3a_p>

"His actions has left Oliver's family and friends devastated and deprived Oliver of a promising future. I hope this highlights the dangers and consequences of drug driving - we welcome the sentence that has been handed down and hope it acts as a deterrent to others." <_o3a_p>

Oliver was the eldest of four children in his family and studying maths at Huddersfield University. <_o3a_p>

His heartbroken family have struggled to come to terms with what happened to him. <_o3a_p>

His mum Stacey,said: "Oliver wanted to become a maths teacher at his old secondary school. His words were that he wanted to teach others and inspire the next generation just like his teachers had inspired him. <_o3a_p>

"Since his death, his school have put in place an award in Oliver's name, The Oliver Pryde award for mathematics - it's a way that he can continue to inspire the next generation. <_o3a_p>

"No justice will ever be served in my eyes. I am left with a lifetime without Oliver and I'm left trying to rebuild the family that this person broke." <_o3a_p>