High on Weed, No Licence: Teen Sentenced for Fatal Bedfordshire Crash
Jordon White, 20, went full throttle on January 18, overtaking on double white lines while high on cannabis and unlicensed. His black Vauxhall Corsa, sporting fake plates and no MOT, spun out of control on Toddington Road near Tebworth, Bedfordshire. The disaster left two dead and two seriously injured.
Tragedy on Toddington Road
The Corsa hit a hedge before backing into a tree. Ellie Ogden-Cooper, White’s ex-girlfriend, was thrown from the car and died instantly in a nearby field. Reece White, 23, was found dead in the back seat. A 21-year-old front-seat passenger and a 16-year-old rear passenger suffered serious injuries.
White fled the scene but was caught hiding in a shed nearly two hours later. He insisted he was just a passenger and pinned the blame on his deceased brother.
Shocking Court Revelations
At St Albans Crown Court, White pleaded guilty to two counts each of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann blasted White’s reckless stunt:
“This defendant was driving a car with four other people. He overtook another vehicle at high speed, crossing double white lines on a hill crest. It was a terrible piece of driving. He was unlicensed, high on drugs, uninsured, and driving a car that would have failed its MOT. He fled, leaving others to help.”
White had bought the Corsa for £400. The airbags failed to deploy in the crash. His front passenger reported White was recklessly trying to impress Ellie after they’d been smoking cannabis all day. White only held a provisional licence with no qualified supervisors.
Families Left Devastated
Ellie’s mother shared the heartbreak:
“As a family, we will never get over the loss of our beautiful Ellie. We’re shattered. All we have are precious memories.”
Reece White’s family also mourned deeply:
“He was adored as a son, brother, and grandson. Reece left an indelible mark on everyone he met. The void he leaves will never be filled.”
Judge Michael Kay QC sentenced White to six years in prison and banned him from driving for nine years. The judge slammed the teen’s “callous and utterly despicable” attempt to pin blame on his dead brother, calling his actions “almost beyond comprehension.” White must now live with the consequences of his deadly stunt.
Two Good Samaritan drivers who stopped to help Reece White’s car occupants will each receive a £500 High Sheriff’s award for their bravery.
