Drugged-up pals film horror crash that killed them

TRAGIC footage of the last moments of two friends’ lives has been released after the pair died in a drug-fuelled horror crash.

Driver Kyle Careford, 20, and his friend Michael Owen, 21, both died instantly when the red Renault Clio they were in crashed into a church wall and overturned in the early hours of April 12.

Michael – who can be heard telling his mate to slow down – was filming their journey on his phone as they sped at 90mph through the pitch black Sussex countryside.

Michael Owen

Now their grieving families have released the video, which was shown at the inquest into their deaths in Hastings on Tuesday.

The two friends, both from Tunbridge Wells and staying in Crowborough at the time, had taken a cocktail of prescribed and illegal drugs at the time of the crash.

Kyle did not have a licence and was uninsured to drive the car, which was owned by Michael.

Michael in the speeding car

The pair can be seen and heard laughing, chatting and singing as Michael appears to be giving Kyle a driving lesson through nearby Rotherfield.

Both men, who had been wearing seat belts, died instantly. The video was retrieved from Michael’s phone found under a tree at the crash scene the following morning.

A taxi driver witness said he had been forced off the carriageway by a speeding red car on the wrong side of the road and a woman saw the boys’ car doing ‘doughnuts’ in a Crowborough car park.

The coroner recorded a verdict of death by road traffic collision on both men.

Speaking after the inquest, Michael’s mother Kat said: “We bring our children up teaching them right from wrong. We guide them and give them our advice and hope they listen, but once they are adults we hope they make the right choices.

“I really don’t know why the boys chose to do what they did, but I blame them both for the decisions they made on this night.

Lads hit 90mph before crash

“If all this stops one person from making the same mistake, then some good has come from showing this video.

“I’m hoping it will have an impact on young people and make them see that a bit of fun can have such devastating consequences.

“I would like all the young people out there to take notice and realise that you are not invincible and take seriously how precious your lives are to yourselves and others.

“I want young drivers to consider how much devastation it causes to the families and loved ones that are left behind.

“Watching the video was very upsetting, but I’m hoping it can be used in a positive way, by showing young people what could happen to them.”

Zac Hemming, Kyle’s brother, said: “This footage or anything of its kind should never be recorded, let alone watched.

“However, despite the pain of it being broadcast by the media, we as a family just hope and pray that this will connect with at least one person out there, young or old, so that no-one ever has to experience the unthinkable pain of losing someone so close and dearly loved.

“May we now please let the boys rest in peace?”

Kyle Careford

Lauren Humble, Michael’s ex-partner, added: “This video was absolutely heartbreaking to watch but it did give us all of the answers that were needed.

“I know plenty of people who drive fast and I hope that this video will show people that driving like this can have devastating consequences and how short life can really be.

“You see car accidents on the news all of the time and you never think something like that would happen to you or your family.

“The Michael we saw on that video was not the Michael that we knew who was a loving, caring responsible daddy.

“The legacy that Michael has left is our beautiful daughter Lily-Rose who is five years old. She will have to live with the impact of this horrific situation for ever.”

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas, from the Surrey and Sussex road policing unit, said: “I cannot overstate the courage of both families in working with us to release this video and to add their words and thoughts about it.

“Sadly, my officers have to deal with the aftermath of fatal collisions on an all-too-regular basis, but the loss of two young lives in this incident in such circumstances is in equal measure shocking and frustrating.

“As Kat and Zac have so poignantly expressed, if the release of this incredibly impactive footage results in lives saved, then it will be a valuable legacy of Michael and Kyle’s sad deaths.”