Taxi Driver Online

This is mostly *not* about the taxi driver, and requires careful reading

But this Tedstone guy sounds like a real headbanger


Speeding driver jailed after friend killed in Birmingham head-on crash with taxi

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... d-22503923

Jordan Tedstone was involved in an incident in Frankley Lane in Birmingham where a friend collided with a taxi head-on and died and a second crash while on bail for the first, which left another man paralysed in Woodgate Lane, Rubery

A man speeding on a country lane in Birmingham which led to the death of his friend and a second crash that left another man paralysed has been jailed.

Jordan Tedstone was driving along Frankley Lane in a Volkswagen Scirocco at speeds of up to 70mph when the first crash took place on May 22, 2019.

His friend, Kieron Mason, driving a Volkswagen Polo in the same direction, collided head on with an oncoming taxi and died.

Four cars had left an Asda car park in Barnes Hill ‘in convoy’ after agreeing to meet up again at a picnic area near Bartley Green Reservoir.

Kieron Mason, who was driving a Volkswagen Polo, initially led the convoy but was soon overtaken by Tedstone, driving a Sirroco.

Both cars were speeding and were captured driving at 67mph on a road with a 40mph limit.

There came a point when the other two vehicles were left behind and they turned off taking another route.


Image: Birmingham Live

Tedstone and Mr Mason turned into Frankley Lane at around 1am where a taxi driver who had a passenger was coming in the other direction.

Simon Phillips, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said the taxi driver estimated that Tedstone was travelling at between 60 and 70 mph and slowed down because he was ‘frightened’.

The Polo then appeared and hit the taxi head on before spinning into a hedge and setting ablaze.

Mr Mason was still stuck in the car and died as a result of a traumatic head injury.


Kieron Mason, who was killed in a car crash in Northfield (Image: West Midlands Police/Birmingham Live)

Kieron Mason’s family described the 23-year-old as a ‘really happy, care-free lad who was the life and soul of any party’. They said he was ’devoted to his family’.

The taxi driver and his passenger were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening.

While on bail waiting for trial, Tedstone was involved in another crash on June 13 this year, in Woodgate Lane in Rubery.

Mr Phillips said that on June 13 this year Tedstone had been watching an England football match with others in a pub and that they had decided to move to a different pub.

The 22-year-old lost control of his Mercedes A Class, mounting the pavement before ‘demolishing’ a bus stop in Woodgate Lane. Tedstone then ran off from the scene.

He had three passengers inside the car with him, including a 22-year-old man who suffered permanent spinal cord damage and was left paralysed.

Another passenger aged 19 suffered leg and pelvis fractures and a third was less seriously hurt.


Image: Birmingham Live

Tedstone was found guilty of dangerous driving for the May 2019 collision and pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving for the June 2021 collision. He was also convicted of driving with no insurance.

It had been alleged that the Polo and Sirroco had been racing but Tedstone was acquitted of a charge of causing the death of Mr Mason by dangerous driving following the trial.

In passing sentence Judge Melbourne Inman QC, referring to the first incident, said that after leaving the car park over a distance of about 250 metres Tedstone had accelerated to 70mph and that Frankley Lane was dark, winding country road.

"You were driving at grossly excessive speed and seconds after narrowly missing that taxi your friend, who was driving at similar high speeds, lost control of his car which slid on to its side and collided head on with the taxi. It was a horrific crash from which your friend died.

"The jury acquitted you of responsibility for that crash but what happened, however, vividly demonstrates the terrible danger of cars being driven at such high speeds in such locations."

The judge said of the second incident: “On this occasion you made the same error of judgement that your friend had.”

Beth Crocker, defending, said Tedstone had only just turned 20 when the first incident occurred and that he was someone who had done charitable work and had a supportive family.

The 22-year-old, of Gregory Avenue, Weoley Castle, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (December 16) for four years and nine months for both offences.

He has also been disqualified from driving for seven years.

Sergeant Julie Lyman, from West Midlands Police 's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Tedstone drove at speeds around residential streets with no care for anyone else’s safety.

“His reckless actions have resulted in some catastrophic consequences in not just one, but two collisions.

"He has rightly been jailed and we will continue our fight to take dangerous drivers off our streets and make the West Midlands safer.”