A 23-year-old mother posted ‘I’m gunna die’ in a tragic final Snapchat moments before a 100mph crash that killed her and seriously injured other passengers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Leon Roberts, 25, drove into a parked taxi before fleeing the scene and leaving his friends to fight for their lives as the car went up in flames.
COURT RULING
On Friday Roberts was jailed for nine years and six months and disqualified from driving for 14 years and three months for his ‘selfish actions’.
Driving at speeds of almost 100mph, his passengers shared videos on social media that read ‘I’m gunna die’ in the moments before the collision.
POLICE STATEMENT
Detectives said that Roberts had been socialising on the evening of Saturday 25 February 2023 with friends at a pub in Sheffield.
A few hours later, the group, which included 23-year-old Sharna Burgin decided to continue their evening in the city centre.
Roberts drove the group in his Mercedes GLA, with officers identifying Snapchat videos sent by passengers in the vehicle showing him driving dangerously and reaching speeds of up to 100mph.
As Roberts took a bend, he lost control and collided with a parked taxi in a layby. The taxi was damaged in the crash and Roberts’ Mercedes set on fire within minutes of the collision.
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT
The passenger in the front seat of Roberts’ car told officers during his interview: ‘I thought I was going to die.’ He added that he could see the crash coming, putting his arms in front of his face.
The passenger was the first out of the car and recalled how Roberts’ seat was empty and that he had already fled the scene.
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With the car about to go up in flames, he helped his friends out of the car, with one passenger unconscious and Ms Burgin left critically injured. Emergency services attended and took five people to hospital.
A hunt was launched for Roberts after he fled the scene, but he handed himself into Shepcote Custody at 6pm the same day to report he had been in a collision.
