Rochdale driver who killed gran shouldn't drive again, say family
The family of a grandmother killed by a driver who was driving on a bend at 118mph have said they hope he never gets behind the wheel of a car again.
Trent Simm, 25, crashed head-on into Doris Bridgehouse's car in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on 13 May 2022.
Her daughter, who was injured along with her son in the crash, said Simm's actions were "unforgiveable".
Simm, of Rochdale, was jailed for seven years and four months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Ms Bridgehouse was driving her daughter, Mandy, and grandson, Max, home after visiting his university showcase when the crash happened.
Greater Manchester Police said Simm, of Edenfield Road, was treating the road as his "private race track" by driving his Audi S3 at nearly four times the 30mph (48kmh) speed limit along Halifax Road.
He lost control as he hit a left-hand bend and veered into the opposite lane, hitting Mrs Bridgehouse's Kia Venga.
The retired nurse died at the scene while Mandy, 56, and Max suffered serious injuries.
"Mum basically had just over a second of thinking time when he came into visibility round a bend on our side of the road," she told BBC North West Tonight.
"My mum didn't stand a chance."
She said: "I do not know what he was thinking driving at that speed in a 30mph zone on the wrong side of the road."
Max, 22, said he had been "haunted" by the "horrific" crash.
He described his nan as "such a funny lady" who was "part of so many communities and a friend to so many people".
"I have to live with images and feelings of things someone my age should never have had to have gone through," he said.
He said losing his nan was "the toughest thing our family's ever been through" because Simm "chose to drive so recklessly".
"It just feels such a waste and so needless. It needn't have happened... he should never drive again.
"It really is devastating the impact that you can have so please just think about that before you decide to do something that you could just regret for the rest of your life," Max said.
Mandy, who described her mother as her "best friend" also pleaded with people to think before they drive.
"Every time you get behind the wheel you are in charge of a lethal weapon," she said.
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