A man has been sentenced to prison for causing the death of his girlfriend in a head-on crash on a dual carriageway while being pursued by the police.
Kane Farragher, aged 24, was under the influence of drugs when he drove his BMW in the wrong direction on the A19 and collided with another car, resulting in the death of 24-year-old Taylor Jenkins. The collision occurred around 3 am on March 1, with Farragher reaching speeds of 136mph.
Following his admission of guilt for causing death by dangerous driving, Farragher was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court. The tragic incident was confirmed by Northumbria Police.
Police officers had initiated the pursuit after Farragher failed to stop when signaled to do so. Alongside his girlfriend’s death, a friend seated in the back of Farragher’s car sustained severe injuries in the collision.
Farragher’s BMW collided with a VW Sharan, resulting in the driver needing medical attention, while Farragher himself escaped serious harm. Post-accident tests revealed that Farragher was significantly over the legal limits for various drugs including cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, and ketamine.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw highlighted that Farragher’s BMW was flagged by a camera notification system in Tyneside as a vehicle of interest to law enforcement authorities in Scotland.
Despite attempts by Northumbria Police to intercept him, Farragher managed to evade capture by driving at dangerous speeds. The pursuit was called off when he drove the wrong way on the A19, ultimately leading to the fatal collision with a taxi.
Ms Jenkins lost her life in the crash, and the rear passenger suffered serious injuries, including skull and rib fractures. In contrast, Farragher, trapped by the airbag in the driver’s seat, sustained minimal injuries.
During the sentencing, Farragher, who was watching remotely from prison, was also banned from driving due to a previous disqualification. This ban stemmed from an earlier conviction in 2023 for aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.
Initially denying his involvement, Farragher later confessed to causing death by dangerous driving, drug-related offenses, driving while disqualified, and causing severe injury to his friend. The victim’s family expressed their deep sorrow and requested privacy to mourn their loss.
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