### Drug-Influenced Driver Jailed After Tragic Crash Claims Young Friend’s Life
A 21-year-old man was sentenced at Newport Crown Court after causing the death of his friend while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Tymon Turner, from Aberaeron, appeared before the court on Tuesday, following a crash in November 2023 that resulted in the untimely death of 19-year-old Jac Walters, a close friend and passenger in Turner’s vehicle.
The incident stemmed from a night out that developed into a tragedy. Turner, Walters, and their mutual friend Tom Beswick travelled from Ceredigion to the Forest of Dean late on 11 November 2023 to attend a rave. All three, previously school friends, set off at 10pm and, after making the two-hour journey, arrived shortly before midnight. The group spent hours at the rave, with both Turner and Walters consuming alcohol, and Turner also taking multiple lines of ketamine and MDMA.
Beswick recounted that Turner was visibly affected by the substances, describing him as stumbling and unsteady. Out of concern, the group decided to wait after the rave for Turner to recover before attempting the drive home. Despite initial hesitation and warnings from his friends, Turner insisted on driving, and the group set off around midday, with Turner behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta.
As they travelled downhill along the A4136 near Monmouth, Turner failed to safely navigate a sharp right-hand bend, travelling at a speed believed to be 26mph. In a bid to correct his course, he braked sharply and oversteered, leading the car to collide with a bank and overturn. The Fiesta ultimately came to rest on its roof, with Jac Walters suffering fatal head injuries and being pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency services attended swiftly, aided initially by an off-duty nurse who witnessed the crash’s aftermath. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Walters, but their efforts proved futile. Moments after the collision, Turner, deeply shocked, told responding officers, “My friend is dead, I just killed my friend.”
Tests carried out at the scene revealed Turner had both ketamine and MDMA in his system, with levels above the legal limit. Additionally, a small bag containing cocaine was found on his person. A blood sample indicated 116 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of blood—well over the legal limit of 80 micrograms. He was subsequently arrested and charged with causing death by careless driving, driving over the prescribed limit, and possession of drugs.
The victim’s mother, Donna Walters, delivered a powerful statement during the hearing, expressing her devastation at the loss of her son. She recounted her final hours with Jac—a day spent shopping, talking, and sharing a meal together—as moments she would cherish forever. Donna described the profound impact her son’s death had on every aspect of her life, from her mental health to her day-to-day routines, and revealed that she continues to suffer with anxiety, sleeplessness, and recurring nightmares.
Turner, who had until this point been of good character, pleaded guilty, expressing deep remorse for the consequences of his actions. His defence emphasised his regret and the ongoing emotional pain caused to both families by the tragedy.
Passing sentence, Judge Daniel Williams underlined the profound loss suffered by Jac Walters’ family, noting that no penalty could erase their pain or bring Jac back. Turner was sentenced to four years and eight months in a young offenders’ institution and disqualified from driving for five years following his release.
Following the hearing, Gwent Police issued a statement reinforcing the risks of impaired driving, highlighting the devastating and often irreversible consequences of combining drugs, alcohol, and disregard for road safety. The case serves as a poignant reminder of how one night’s poor choices can destroy numerous lives, leaving families and communities wracked by grief.