Driver Sentenced for Fatal Crash After Inhaling Nitrous Oxide

Thomas Johnson, 19, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for causing the deaths of three teenage friends in a crash while under the influence of nitrous oxide. The incident occurred on June 20, 2023, when Johnson was driving a BMW 3 Series at speeds exceeding 100mph, ultimately crashing into a tree near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The victims, Elliot Pullen, 17, Ethan Goddard, and Daniel Hancock, both 18, suffered fatal injuries, with the judge stating they would never see beyond their teenage years. Johnson, who has sustained severe injuries himself, including permanent facial disfigurement and brain trauma, was found to have been inhaling nitrous oxide prior to the crash, which was evident from video clips recovered from the scene. At the sentencing, Judge Emma Nott emphasized the tragic consequences of Johnson’s reckless behavior, noting that no sentence could adequately reflect the loss experienced by the victims' families. Johnson has also been banned from driving for nearly 12 years following the incident.