Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 28th March 2025, at 19:20hrs
A night of casual drinks and a lift home turned into a horrific tragedy, leaving one young man dead and two others severely injured, a court has heard.
Kyah Barton, 19, of Ramsgate Road, Lytham, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, for causing the death of 21-year-old Harrison Bretherton and seriously injuring two others in a devastating collision.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 14, 2023, when Barton, driving a Toyota Landcruiser, lost control and slammed into a tree on Blackpool Road, Lytham.
Harrison Bretherton, from St Annes, a rear seat passenger, tragically succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
The other two passengers, a man in his 20s and an 18-year-old girl, sustained serious injuries requiring extensive hospital treatment.
Preston Crown Court heard that Barton, who worked at a local bar, had met Harrison Bretherton and his friends later in the evening.
Despite admitting to having consumed three alcoholic drinks, Barton claimed he was “fit to drive” and offered them a lift home.
A breath test conducted at the scene revealed Barton’s blood alcohol level to be 47 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.
Barton pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol, causing death whilst uninsured, and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sgt. Thomas Malley of the Roads Policing Unit expressed his deep sorrow, stating,
“Barton’s careless driving cost Harrison his life, and my thoughts remain with his loved ones.
Drink driving is never acceptable. I hope this goes to show that even if you think you are under the limit, you may well not be, and choosing to get behind the wheel after drinking can cost and so quickly change the lives of so many people.”
The tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drink driving, and the irreversible damage it inflicts on families and communities.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects someone of driving dangerously or under the influence to report it immediately.
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