A SECOND man has been jailed after a fatal collision at a car meet attended by hundreds of spectators.

Thomas Humphreys, 22, of Ruskin Court, Farnworth, was sentenced yesterday for his part in the horror crash that killed 19-year-old Sophie Louise Smith in May.

Humphreys was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years and six months at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Humphreys pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to perverting the course of justice, aiding and abetting dangerous driving, and dangerous driving.

At 9.50pm on Thursday, May 31, police were called to Europa Way in Trafford Park after a car mounted a pavement and crashed into pedestrians.

Seven people were taken to hospital and 19-year-old Sophie Smith died the following day from catastrophic injuries.

The car involved in the collision, a blue BMW 330D, had been supplied to Humphreys as a courtesy vehicle after his own car had been damaged in a previous collision in Bolton.

Humphreys had driven the BMW to Trafford Park to attend an unofficial car meet.

Humphreys was seen driving the BMW at speed, and witnesses saw him ‘drifting’ the car around the Europa Circle roundabout.

Humphrey’s then handed the wheel of the BMW to his friend Scott Watkins.

Watkins got in the drivers’ seat and sped away, leaving Humphreys behind.

Scott Watkins lost control of the BMW and ploughed into a crowd of spectators.

Humphreys fled the scene and reported his BMW as stolen, in an attempt to cover his tracks. But his version of events was quickly discovered to be a lie, and he was swiftly arrested.

Inspector Daniel Byrne, from GMP’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit, said: “This was an incredibly tragic incident in which a young woman’s life was cut short, and my thoughts remain with Sophie’s friends and family.

“Humphreys made the cowardly decision to flee the scene, and refused to face up to his actions by lying to police in an attempt to cover his tracks.

“I welcome this sentence today, as Humphreys will face the next 20 months in jail and must finally face the consequences of what he has done.”