Luke Hawkes: Man, 28, kills 19-year-old after driving through red light, says 'hope I killed someone'
SOMERSET, ENGLAND: A van driver was captured on camera telling police, "I hope I killed someone" when he was apprehended for killing a teenager after driving through a red light. On November 18, Luke Hawkes, 28, jumped a red light, drove at a high speed, and collided with two cars, instantaneously killing Bethany Branson, 19.
Hawkes can be seen driving a white Ford Transit van along the A38 in Bridgwater, Somerset, in a video from the Avon and Somerset Police. After the horrifying collision, Hawkes was detained and threatened with a taser but refused to give a sample of breath for testing. After his arrest, he was recorded on a bodycam saying, "I hope I killed someone. Oh well, you know what, I will get three, four, five years. Hopefully, I killed them."
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The court was informed that Hawkes had been detained after the collision and had displayed no remorse for his acts by refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or swab test for drugs and alcohol. Hawkes, a resident of Bridgwater, reportedly entered a guilty plea to causing death by driving recklessly and failing to submit a specimen at a prior hearing.
At Taunton Crown Court on Friday, January 27, Hawkes received a 10-year sentence as well as a 12-year and 7-month driving ban. Judge Paul Cook said, "You can tell this was a prolonged, consistent and deliberate course of driving. It was obvious that you where drunk as I have seen the state of your intoxication on a number of videos. It was very clear that Bethany was a bubbly and infectious person, destined for a life of giving which has shattered the hearts of the family. You created a sea of carnage and then left. You were then heard saying 'I'm glad she is dead, she deserved it' and 'Hopefully [you] killed someone,'" as per Daily Mail.
In the video, Bethany's mother Amy said, "She was thoughtful, she was loved. She always said growing up that she was here for the good times and not for a long time and it's heartbreaking that actually she was right."
Prior to the deadly incident, Hawkes was reportedly engaged in a minor traffic accident near the Showground Roundabout, farther along the A38 Taunton Road. After the collision, he left the scene and headed to Bridgwater, where he later caused the accident that killed Bethany. Three more individuals, including Hawkes, experienced minor wounds.
Senior investigating officer, Andrew Roebuck, and family liaison officer, Martin Farnell, said, "The family have shown exceptional courage and bravery in speaking so openly about Bethany, who is very clearly loved and cherished by all those who knew her. Bethany was a bubbly and outgoing young lady who had her entire life ahead of her, who dreamed of a career with animals and had a passion for rugby. We hope that this significant sentence for Hawkes gives the family some closure following the devastating loss of their daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, goddaughter and friend."