A teenager who killed a man and left two others seriously injured in a fatal drink drive crash has been jailed.
Kyah Barton, 19, was driving friends home from a bar in the early hours when he lost control and crashed into a tree in September 2023. Harrison Bretherton, 21, died in hospital from his injuries suffered in the crash, while Harrison’s twin brother James and his girlfriend were left seriously injured. Earlier that night, Harrison and the other passengers had been in a bar in Lytham, Lancs, where Barton worked. Barton then met them in another bar later in the evening, and told them he ‘was fit to drive’ before offering them a lift home.
But when officers later breathalysed Barton they found him to be 12mcg over the drink drive limit and he admitted he’d had ‘three drinks’ Lancashire Police said. Last week Barton, of Ramsgate Road, Lytham, was sentenced to two years and four months’ at a young offenders’ institution. He was also disqualified from driving for six years.
Paying tribute at the time of Harrison’s death, his heartbroken older brother, Trafford, 25, said: “Harrison was a much loved and adored son, brother and friend to many.
“He had a heart of gold and lit up every room he entered with his larger than life, happy aura and a beautiful smile to go with it.”
Speaking about the day of the crash, Trafford added: “Harrison was surrounded by all his family and friends, all the people who adored him were by his side until the very end. Now he is by all of our sides, every minute of every day.
Barton had already admitted causing death by careless driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol, causing death while uninsured and causing serious injury by careless driving, at an earlier hearing at Preston Crown Court.
Police said it was shortly after midnight on September 14th 2023 when they were called to the scene on Blackpool Road in Lytham, where Barton had lost control of the Toyota Landcruiser he was driving.
He was arrested at the scene. Sgt Thomas Malley said: “Barton’s careless driving cost Harrison his life, and my thoughts remain with his loved ones.”
“Drink driving is never acceptable,” he said.
“I hope this goes to show that even if you think you are under the limit, you may well not be, and choosing to get behind the wheel after drinking can cost and so quickly change the lives of so many people.”
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