A female Audi driver who was under the influence of nitrous oxide, commonly known as 'hippy crack', has been found guilty of causing the death of a musician who was speaking to his father on the phone at the time of the collision.
Details of the Incident
Tiffany Treanor-Johnson, 27, had consumed the Class C drug nitrous oxide and was driving at 53mph in a 20mph zone when she struck Harry Webb, 27, and subsequently fled the scene. The incident occurred in September 2023 on Kenworthy Road, Hackney, a road notorious for traffic collisions.
Harry was cycling while on a hands-free phone call with his parents, thanking them for helping him move house across London just hours earlier. Treanor-Johnson, then 24, was travelling at more than double the speed limit when she hit Harry on the pavement, causing a traumatic brain injury. She drove away, leaving him fatally injured at the roadside. He died two days later.
A motorist who witnessed the crash attempted to prevent Treanor-Johnson from leaving, but she drove off with two friends in the car.
Parents' Heartbreaking Account
Harry's parents, Mike and Pat, both 66, listened to the horrific crash unfold over the phone. A stranger picked up their son's phone after hearing Mike's shouts and informed them that their son had been hit by a car.
Mike recounted: 'The passerby we spoke to told us that Harry had his helmet on. He was trying to reassure me, I think, but we could hear the sirens. We then got told an ambulance had arrived and was taking Harry to hospital. We both packed some things into a bag thinking he'd got a broken leg or something. That was until a surgeon from the hospital rang us. They said we needed to pull over so we did. Then we were told Harry had suffered major brain trauma and he likely would not survive. He died two days later surrounded by his family and about 20 of his friends. He had only rung up to say: "Thanks mum, thanks dad" for helping him with the move.'
Mike noted that campaigns had been ongoing for 15 years to make Kenworthy Road safer, where his son was killed. Harry was studying music production at the London College of Contemporary Music and was cycling to London Fields Lido for a swim when the crash occurred.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Treanor-Johnson changed her plea on the day of the trial to guilty, admitting to causing death by dangerous driving after originally pleading not guilty. At the time of the crash, nitrous oxide was not illegal to possess in the UK; it was reclassified as a Class C drug on 8 November 2023.
Mike expressed that Treanor-Johnson showed 'no remorse' for killing his son, stating, 'She has been totally in denial of what she's done.' His wife Pat echoed this sentiment, saying, 'After all of this time we have not heard anything from her or her family - not even an: "I'm sorry" or a: "Sorry for your loss". Nothing. It has all been about her, about how hard her childhood was and other things, when we are the victims - our son is dead. He has been robbed of his future.'
Judge Rosa Dean remanded Treanor-Johnson in custody and adjourned sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court until July. The judge commented, 'It does look like you have tried to bury your head in the sand, leaving it up to the day of the trial to accept you have no defence and accepting your responsibility. You are looking at a substantial period of imprisonment. It seems to me there is a substantial risk that, were I to grant you bail, you would bury your head in the sand again.'
