Two who killed in road race jailed

Two drivers who killed a Black Country mother in a high speed road race, which ended in a head-on crash, have each been jailed for six years.

Mark Botfield, 32, and James Atkins, 38, both fled the scene after the crash in Powke Lane, Rowley Regis, on April 19 last year.

Lyn Bedford, 45, had been travelling in the back seat of her family's car and died as a result of the crash which happened on a corner as Botfield's Volvo attempted to overtake Atkins' Ford Puma and was on the wrong side of the road.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that they had been travelling at about 50mph when the crash occurred at 8.10pm in darkness and driving rain.

Witnesses told how they saw Botfield get out of his car after the crash and get into Atkins' who drove the two of them away from the scene.

Botfield, of Ashfield Crescent, Dudley handed himself into police the next morning and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Atkins, of Ripley Close, Tividale, denied the charge but was found guilty after a three day trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court last month.

The men had met in the Shoulder of Mutton pub before leaving together in their separate cars.

Mrs Bedford was rushed to hospital after the crash but died five weeks later after suffering severe internal injuries in the crash.