Wigan Teen Jailed for Laughing Gas Driving Causing Serious Pedestrian Injuries

Louisa Tunstall, a 19-year-old from Wigan, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, while driving and subsequently crashing into a 51-year-old pedestrian, causing serious, life-changing injuries. CCTV footage captured Tunstall and her passenger inhaling the drug moments before the crash, which caused her car to overturn. Police found no mechanical faults with her vehicle, concluding that the nitrous oxide impaired her reaction time and driving ability. Tunstall was also disqualified from driving for two years and eight months and must pass an extended driving test upon release. The victim described the profound physical and emotional impact of the collision, including loss of mobility, mental health struggles, and the necessity of full-time care from her daughter, emphasizing the lasting trauma caused by Tunstall's actions. Authorities noted that nitrous oxide is a controlled substance with effects including euphoria, dizziness, and impaired judgment, contributing to the dangerous driving incident.