Yahoo Finance Learner driver jailed for killing woman, 20, in hit-and-run and then pretending she was a passer-by
A learner driver has been jailed for killing a young woman in a hit-and-run and then trying to cover her tracks by having her boyfriend drive the car away.
Kennedy Lucas, 24, also lied to police and hid her car keys after fatally injuring 20-year-old Krystal Hamilton on 6 February.
Northampton Crown Court heard Krystal was walking back from a local supermarket, and was less than 50 metres from her home in the town’s Grange Park area, when she was hit by the Volkswagen Passat.
Lucas and her partner Vinny Guess, 28, attempted to cover up what happened, instead of seeking help, while Krystal lay badly injured in the road.
Passenger Guess switched to the driver’s seat and drove off while Lucas stayed behind and lied to residents, telling them there had been an accident she wasn't involved in.
Lucas was said to have convinced her boyfriend to let her drive his car so she could "show off" what she had learned in just five driving lessons with family.
She later told police in interview: "I just wanted to have a little play around. But playing around has consequences."
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Lucas lost control of the Passat at around 11pm.
When she tried to brake, she accidentally pressed the accelerator and sped up before colliding with Krystal, who fell to the pavement and suffered a fatal head injury.
Unable to stop, Lucas also careered across a grass verge in a complete circle and crashed into a wall, causing an estimated £11,000 of damage.
Less than 10 seconds after the impact, Guess climbed into the Passat's driving seat, left Lucas at the scene, and drove away.
Lucas then stood by and tried to flag down a car and did not check on Krystal.
The first person to stop was a woman who knew the victim. Lucas told her there had been "a hit-and-run".
When concerned neighbours arrived to help, she told them she would be "back in two minutes" and left. She never returned.
Within two hours, police attended Lucas and Guess’ home to ask about the damaged Passat parked out front.
As the officer approached the door, the court heard how Lucas hid her car keys.
She then told the officer she didn't know anything about the car or the incident, and that "people park there all the time".
Lucas, of Luton, admitted causing death by careless driving and perverting the cause of justice and was jailed for 30 months on Friday this week. She was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Guess, of Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Sentencing, Judge Rupert Mayo said: "It is as serious as it gets. It involves staying by the person fighting for her life and doing nothing. It was devious.
"Rather than attending the scene and making sure that person in the road had emergency assistance and accepting the blame, she stayed at the scene and acted what was described as rather coolly.
"She strongly implied she wasn't responsible and it was a hit-and-run driver...
"The only reason that I can define for [Lucas] driving the car is that she wanted to show off to her partner.”
