A night of Halloween celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy when a young driver, high on ecstasy, crashed and killed his best friend on the journey home.
Lewis Williams, 22, was more than twice the drug drive limit when he lost control of his black Mini Cooper on the A548 in North Wales. The vehicle left the road and collided with a tree in the early hours of October 29, 2022.
His front-seat passenger and close friend, 22-year-old Matthew Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene. The impact of the crash was so severe that the vehicle was described as being "almost wrapped around the tree".
A Fateful Night of Celebration
The two friends had been attending a Halloween party in the town of Prestatyn. An inquest heard that Lewis Williams had consumed ecstasy (MDMA) that evening.
Tragically, Matthew had initially been the designated driver for the night. However, the plan changed, and Lewis, who was under the influence, got behind the wheel for the return journey to their home in Towyn.
The Aftermath and a Guilty Plea
Lewis Williams was subsequently arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison at Mold Crown Court in July 2023.
At the recent inquest in Ruthin, assistant coroner David Lewis concluded that Matthew's death was a result of a road traffic collision. He expressed his deepest condolences to Matthew's family, who attended the hearing.
This devastating incident serves as a stark and sombre warning about the catastrophic consequences of driving under the influence of drugs.
