Driver's nitrous canister shame

‘IDIOTIC’ DRIVER INHALED LAUGHING GAS MINUTES BEFORE TRAGIC, FATAL SMASH

- By STEPHEN TOPPING

AN 'idiotic' speeding driver was seen using nitrous oxide two minutes before killing his friend in a devastating crash.

Ryan Evans, 27, was one of three passengers in an Audi A3 being driven by Arran Donnelly, now 28, through Stockport when tragedy struck.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Donnelly was seen driving at up to 'two-and-a-half times' the speed of other vehicles in Reddish on Saturday, February 24, last year.

He lost control of the car while approaching a bend on Broadstone Road, mounting the kerb before crashing into a wall.

Donnelly and the two passengers sitting on the left-hand-side of the car survived, but Mr Evans who was sitting behind the driver tragically died at the scene.

The court heard Mr Evans was only a matter of days away from jetting off to Thailand with his brother when the crash took place, leaving the family 'torn apart' by his 'sudden and senseless loss.

The four friends were only on a short drive as they made their way to a pub.

A brief video clip officers discovered on Mr Evans' phone, shown in court, featured Donnelly in the driving seat with a balloon in his mouth at around 5.57pm and 0.7 miles from the scene of the crash, which took place at 5.59pm.