Deadly Crash: Drifting BMW Driver Jailed for Nine Years
Liam Pusey, 23, from Herriard, has been slammed with a nine-year prison sentence after a horrific crash on the A32 near Droxford on February 4, 2021.
Speeding Out of Control
Portsmouth Crown Court heard Pusey was tearing north along the A339 in his heavily modified grey BMW 320D Sport. His girlfriend, Melissa Orsborn, sat beside him.
At around 7:55pm, Pusey was clocked driving between 69mph and 85mph in a 50mph zone. He lost control, spinning straight into the path of a southbound silver Volkswagen Golf.
Tragic Consequences
Emergency crews rushed to the scene. Melissa was cut free from the wreckage and rushed to southampton/" title="Southampton" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Southampton General Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead.
The driver of the Volkswagen, 37-year-old Louisa Wray from Fareham, suffered a broken left wrist and right foot. She underwent surgery and spent two nights in hospital.
Dangerous Driving & Unsafe Car
Pusey was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, death by driving uninsured, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The court revealed that Pusey’s BMW was heavily modified for drifting. His reckless driving had worn the front offside tyre down so much that the internal cords were exposed — making the car a deadly hazard on the road.
A forensic expert told the jury the car was in such poor condition, it should never have been driven on public roads.
Police Constable Lucy Hawkins, from the Roads Policing Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Liam Pusey showed total disregard for the safety of his passenger and other road users by speeding in a dangerously unsafe vehicle. His recklessness has taken the life of one woman and put another in hospital. I hope the result we got today makes other drivers think twice about their driving and the state of their vehicles.”
