Shocking moment ‘hippy crack’ driver, 23, inhales balloon and uses his phone before killing his 15-year-old cousin in horror 60mph crash after ploughing through a metal barrier – as he is jailed for 7½ years

• Cameron Hughes, 23, admitted causing death by dangerous driving yesterday

This is the shocking moment a drugged-up van driver inhales ‘hippy crack’ and uses his phone just before he killed his 15-year-old cousin in a horror 60mph crash.

Cameron Hughes, 23, drove through a metal barrier in his Mercedes Sprinter van and plunged into a parapet over a dirt track – killing Bonny Barrow while he was thrown free and survived.

Tragic dashcam footage shows the vehicle heading down the slip road before it fails to make the corner – smashing through the barriers at the edge of the A56 at Huncoat, near Accrington.

In a painful change the video cuts to black, before we see the image return as it looks up towards the bridge through a shattered window.

The courier, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving yesterday, has now been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Cameron Hughes, 23, (pictured) – who was wearing a flashy gold watch, a black t-shirt and shorts – is seen dancing to music and dragging from the balloon as he drives with no hands on the steering wheel

The horror crash killed tragic 15-year-old Bonny Barrow (pictured) while he was thrown free and survived

Hughes drove through a metal barrier in his Mercedes Sprinter van and plunged into a parapet over a dirt track

He had been using his phone to stream music and access Snapchat just seconds before the fatal crash – while neither of the cousins were wearing seatbelts.

Police said his vehicle was involved in ‘numerous close calls’ during the 35-minute journey from Manchester to Great Harwood, Lancashire, including one where he bounced off a kerb at the edge of a carriageway at over 60mph.

Shocking footage taken inside the vehicle moments before tragedy shows Hughes inhaling a balloon filled with nitrous oxide and looking at his phone.

The tattooed driver – who was wearing a flashy gold watch, a black t-shirt and shorts – dances to music and drags from the balloon as he drives with no hands on the steering wheel.

He later appears to laugh between drags – while a third moment shows him brazenly on his phone and looking away from the road, while his second hand clutches both the steering wheel and the balloon. 

Hughes was taking his ‘bubbly’ passenger for a family dinner on July 7, with her mum recalling how she had trusted Hughes to keep her daughter safe on the short journey home.

But at 7.20pm, Hughes left the A56 Accrington bypass at the junction with Burnley Road, in Huncoat, near Accrington.

His Mercedes Sprinter van was travelling at between 62mph and 68mph on the 60mph zone and he approached the junction at an ‘inappropriate speed’, the court heard.

The courier, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving yesterday, has now been jailed for seven-and-a-half years 

Shocking footage taken inside the vehicle moments before tragedy shows Hughes inhaling a balloon filled with nitrous oxide and looking at his phone

Police said his vehicle was involved in ‘numerous close calls’ during the 35-minute journey from Manchester to Great Harwood, Lancashire

In a painful change the end of the video cuts to black, before we see the image return as it looks up towards the bridge through a shattered window

Hughes was thrown from the vehicle and only suffered relatively minor wounds – but Bonney was thrown towards the windscreen and received serious injuries. 

Bonney, from Blackley, was taken to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and later transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, where she died just before midnight on July 8. 

Hughes admitted causing death by dangerous driving on August 17 and was jailed yesterday at Preston Crown Court.

He was also banned from driving for eight years and nine months.

In an emotional tribute, Bonny’s mum said he had denied her daughter the chance to ‘fully blossom’ and become a ‘beautiful young woman’.

She said: ‘Bonny was an amazing daughter who was kind, loving and always wanted to spend time with her family and friends.

‘She loved doing all the things that teenagers do especially dancing, singing, shopping and making TikTok videos that we treasure.

‘We cherish the memories of her and the joy she brought us for the 15 years that she was in our lives. We all miss her so much and would do anything to have her back.

‘Cameron had one job that day – to get Bonny home to us safely.

‘But he made dangerous choices that led to her death and cost us the chance to watch her fully blossom in to the beautiful young woman she was becoming.

In an emotional tribute, Bonny’s mum said he had denied her daughter the chance to ‘fully blossom’ and become a ‘beautiful young woman’

He had been using his phone to stream music and access Snapchat just seconds before the fatal crash – while neither of the cousins were wearing seatbelts

But at 7.20pm, Hughes left the A56 Accrington bypass at the junction with Burnley Road, in Huncoat, near Accrington (pictured)

‘Bonny – I am so proud to be your mum.

‘The love and laughter that you bought in to our lives can never be replaced.

‘And even though we are now apart, my hand is always held out if you ever need to hold it.’ 

Yesterday, a judge at Preston Crown Court jailed Hughes and described his driving as ‘shocking’, saying a young life had been ‘needlessly wiped out’. 

Sgt Laura Kendall, from Lancashire Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said Hughes was entirely responsible for Bonny’s death.

She said: ‘Bonny was a much-loved bubbly teenager whose life has been cruelly taken away.

My heart goes out to her family and friends who have been so affected by her tragic loss.

‘Cameron Hughes is entirely responsible for what happened that day in July.

Hughes’ Mercedes Sprinter van was travelling at between 62mph and 68mph on the 60mph zone and he approached the junction at an ‘inappropriate speed’, the court heard

Hughes was thrown from the vehicle and only suffered relatively minor wounds – but Bonney (pictured) was thrown towards the windscreen and received serious injuries. 

Sentencing at Preston Crown Court (pictured), Judge Heather Lloyd described Hughes’ driving as ‘shocking’ and said a young person’s life had been ‘needlessly wiped out’ 

‘He chose to take nitrous oxide while driving, to use his mobile phone at the wheel and to drive dangerously.

‘These avoidable actions led to the devastating collision that caused the death of Bonny.’

Sgt Matt Davidson, also from the force’s serious collision investigation unit, added: ‘Too often we see the aftermath of drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide.

‘It is seen by many to be a harmless drug but as shown here, the consequences of misusing it can be fatal.

‘On 8th November 2023, nitrous oxide will become a controlled Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

‘We welcome this news in the hope that it deters this dangerous behaviour and prevents other families having to go through what Bonny’s are.’

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