Tragic Outcome: Man Jailed for Allowing Drunk Teen to Crash His Car

Tragic Outcome

A man who allowed a drunk teenage girl to get behind the wheel of his car which then crashed killing her was today (Tuesday) jailed for seven months. Sammy Bingham, 34, of Winona Crest, Craigavon, Co Armagh, had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Tara Wright. He further admitted to “wanton and furious driving” causing injury to a male rear seat passenger in his car. Belfast Crown Court heard that Bingham and Ms Wright went to a pub in Ballygowan, Co Down to attend a party on Saturday, March 23, 2019, and were driven in Bingham’s Mercedes car by one of his friends. Prosecution counsel Sam Magee KC said that sometime after midnight, members of the group were outside the bar. “Shortly thereafter, witnesses noticed how Tara Wright was in the driver’s seat of Mr Bingham’s silver Mercedes,” explained Mr Magee. “The engine was running, and she was seen changing her shoes to put on flat shoes with laces. One witness asked if she was old enough to drive and whether she had a license. She told one witness that she didn’t have a license and she was only 17.” She was described as “very drunk” and others tried to discourage her from driving. ...