A 22-year-old man from Sandfields, Neath Port Talbot, has been locked up after crashing into and killing a former council leader while under the influence of drugs.
Tragic Crash on Port Talbot’s Water Street
Zack Mason struck 85-year-old Thomas “Noel” Crowley as he crossed Water Street on December 7, 2024. Crowley died in the hospital three days later, leaving the community in shock.
Drug Tests and Driving Offences Seal Mason’s Fate
Arrested at the scene, Mason tested positive for drugs, with 2.3 microgrammes of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood—well over the legal limit. Astonishingly, Mason was driving uninsured and unlicensed. His provisional licence had already been revoked in 2022 after a previous insurance offence.
Four Years Behind Bars and Seven-Year Driving Ban
Mason pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving under the influence and to driving while unlicensed and uninsured. He has been sentenced to four years in prison and banned from driving for seven years. He must pass an extended driving test before he can get his licence back.
