Teen driver told he risked his friends' lives after flipping car

18-year-old banned after driving dangerously

A teenager from Onchan who lost control of his car after failing to brake for a corner has been banned from the road for a year.

Curtis Davey, of Birchleigh Close, admitted dangerous driving during an appearance at Douglas Courthouse.

The 18-year-old flipped his VW Golf onto its roof on the Ballamodha Straight, just before 4.30pm, on 11 June.

Other road users watched as he accelerated towards the corner, in excess of 50mph, making no effort to slow down.

The teenager was on R-plates after passing his test in February.

Davey, who had three passengers in the car, was overheard at the scene saying: "I’ve had a massive crash. I’ll lose my licence over this. I was going way too fast."

One of the people in the car had to be taken to Noble’s Hospital in an ambulance.

During sentencing Davey’s probation officer told the court the teenager had been distracted by a friend adding: "He momentarily lost control of his car."

She told the court he was passionate about driving adding: "It is his hope, and dream, that one day he can become a qualified mechanic."

Placing Davey under probation for six months High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: "It was undoubtedly an incident of dangerous driving. 

"You risked not only your life but their lives as well.

"You were driving far too quickly. You might think you can drive well – your record speaks differently.

"It is ironic that your passion is with cars, and being a mechanic, when you drove as you did."

Davey was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50 and was disqualified for 12 months and until he's taken, and passed, an extended driving test.