Ellie Underhill: Seven-year sentence for driver after car bonnet fall death
Ellie Underhill died days after falling from the bonnet of a car driven outside Tesco Extra in Dudley on Boxing Day 2016
A teenager who caused the death of a friend when she was thrown from the bonnet of his car outside a supermarket as a prank has been locked up for almost eight years.
Luke Hickman drove at speeds of 30-40mph with Ellie Underhill clinging on to the windscreen wipers until a handbrake turn sent her hurtling to the ground, causing extensive head injuries, a court heard.
But instead of calling an ambulance or taking her to nearby Russells Hall Hospital, Hickman, 19, and two others drove her to a McDonald's further away where they tried to clean her up with tissue.
It was not until an hour and 13 minutes after the incident on Boxing Day 2016 that Miss Underhill was admitted to hospital.
She died from her injuries in hospital a few days later.
Staff were told she had fallen after drinking, with 19-year-old Elly Phillips doing most of the talking, said prosecutor Mr Robert Price.
Hickman, Phillips and Ross Bingham, 21, who had all been at the Tesco Extra car park on Birmingham Road in Dudley that night, then went to Miss Underhill’s home in Brierley Hill to tell her parents she was in hospital, Stoke on Trent Crown Court heard.
West Midlands Police said that the group repeatedly lied to the family and even visited Ellie’s family on several occasions over a number of days.
The friends even accompanied Ellie’s brother to show him where Ellie had allegedly fallen.
However the pressure got too much for them and, over a week after the incident, Bingham opened up to her brother to reveal exactly what had happened.
The family appealed for information on social media and on January 5 Phillips and Bingham were arrested.
When asked why it took so long to get her to hospital, police say Hickman made up an excuse that he was doing a drugs ‘drop off’.
Hickman’s girlfriend Hana Edwards, 19, texted him to warn him to delete his messages.
Sentences
Hickman, of Wassell Road, Wollescote, Stourbridge, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and a further count of dangerous driving and associated charges on June 6.
Phillips, of Seymour Road, Wollescote; Bingham, of Hagley Road, Edgbaston, and Hickman admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
These three were sentenced on Tuesday.
Hickman was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in a young offender’s institution, Phillips got six months in a young offender’s institution, while Edwards of Grove Road, Wollescote, was given an 18-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work after admitting perverting the course of justice.
Bingham was sentenced to four months in prison on Wednesday.
'A loving and vibrant life'
The family of Ellie have paid tribute to their daughter, “We have waited since the 26 December 2016 for this day and no matter what the sentence is, justice will never be served.
“Contrary to reports in the media, we as her family would like it to be known that none of the defendants informed us as her family, the emergency services or the police of the true events that actually occurred that night.
“This ultimately delayed any important and immediate medical attention which should have been provided to our daughter.
"The actions and lies of those involved are unforgivable and no family should ever have to go through this.
“The laws concerning our daughter’s death are outdated and need modernising for today’s society as soon as possible to stop anymore untimely young deaths.
“Such a loving and vibrant life was taken from us far too soon. We love you Ellie and you are truly missed. God bless.”
Sergeant Alan Wood from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This is a tragic case where a young woman has sadly lost her life following a night out celebrating.
“Following a highly dangerous act resulting in appalling consequences, these three decided against telling the truth, choosing instead to cover up what actually happened with utterly disgraceful lies in an attempt cover up what was a serious crime.
“Our thoughts remain with Ellie’s family who have had to suffer the consequences both of the actions of Hickman and the callous lies told afterwards. Although no sentence will bring Ellie back, I hope it is offers some comfort to them and can help them rebuild their lives."
