A teenage drink driver from Farringdon has been put behind bars after she killed her friend in a crash in 2022.
Yasmin Martin, then aged 17, was almost twice the legal limit and driving at up to 80mph on a 30mph road when she crashed near Queen Alexandra Bridge in December 2022, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Her friend Mia Marsh, who was one of three young female passengers, was killed instantly.
Martin, who lied to police that someone spiked her drink, ultimately admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Martin, Mia and two other friends were on a night out on 2 December in a Vauxhall Astra rented by her dad.
Shortly before 01:00 GMT on 3 December, they left 7even nightclub and set off home, with Miss Marsh initially driving the car after a bar manager stopped Martin from getting behind the wheel due to her being drunk. Mia subsequently took over the driving
The group stopped at a petrol station, where Martin took control of the car after she became “fussy” that Miss Marsh was driving, the court heard.
However, Yasmin Martin, then aged 17, was not fit to drive as she was almost twice over the legal limit and driving at up to 80mph on a 30mph road when she crashed in Sunderland in December 2022, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
None of the four women were initially wearing seatbelts and Martin, who was not insured to drive the car and had only held a full licence since May 2022, drove at speed, Mr Wardlaw said.
Her friends screamed at her to slow down but that only made Martin “angrier” and drive faster, with one of the passengers later telling the police it was like Martin “didn’t care” and thought she was “invincible”.
As the car reached between 75 and 80mph on the A1231 near the Queen Alexandra Bridge, Martin lost control and hit a barrier before crossing over the central reservation and coming to rest 590ft (180m) down the road, Mr Wardlaw said.
Mia was killed by a wound to the head.
Martin, now 19 and of Aldwych Road in Farringdon, was found to have 152mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, the legal limit being 80.
She told police she could not remember anything after being given a drink by an “old man” in one of the bars the group visited, claiming she had been spiked.
But CCTV footage and evidence from bar staff proved her to be lying as the group had bought all their own drinks, Mr Wardlaw said.
Upon pleading guilty, Martin expressed remorse and wished she could turn back the clock.
She was sentenced to eight years in a young offender’s institution and must serve a minimum of five years and four months in custody before being eligible for release.
Martin was also banned from driving for 10 years and four months and must pass an extended test.