A 26-year-old driver was filmed on Snapchat drinking alcohol while doing 100mph in a 30mph zone before his car flipped over killing his workmate, a court has heard.
Meirion Roberts was drinking at a work party before he drove his car into a telegraph pole, killing his colleague Lewis Morgan, 20, Swansea Crown Court was told.
The pair had decided to ‘go for a spin’ in Roberts’ white Vauxhall Corsa when it veered off the road and flipped on its roof.
A court heard Mr Roberts was earlier captured in Snapchat videos while he drank from a bottle of alcohol while driving.
The footage also included the car’s speedometer which showed it was being driven at up to 100mph.
Mr Roberts from South Wales, admits causing death by careless driving but denies causing death by dangerous driving.
Lewis Morgan, 20, pictured, a colleague of Meirion Roberts, 26, died at the scene in South Wales after sustaining severe head trauma
Meirion Roberts denied causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash on Penygroes Road, pictured, in Blaenau, Carmarthenshire in December 2020
Prosecutor Carina Hughes said Mr Roberts and Mr Morgan were out with friends, eating and drinking, at the Cottage Inn near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.
She said: ‘By 6pm the group had consumed five or six pints with their meal.’
Mr Morgan, who worked at Fine-Edge Construction Ltd, then went home with his brother.
But Mr Roberts later came to the house, the court heard, and the pair left together at around 8.10pm to ‘go for a spin’.
Mr Roberts was captured on CCTV going to a Bargain Booze store, the court was told.
The car was later seen ‘speeding and swerving’ in a 30mph zone in the village of Blaenau, South Wales, its claimed.
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Ms Hughes said: ‘A member of the public saw the defendant leave the road and crash into a telegraph pole and a wall.
‘The car ended up on its roof. Lewis Morgan sustained severe head trauma and could not be resuscitated. He died at the scene.
‘Roberts not only drove while under the influence of alcohol but drove while consuming alcohol.
‘He drove at speed and at one point in excess of the speed limit for over a mile. At one point he drove at 100mph.
‘He could not control his vehicle and that is why he was seen swerving on more than one occasion.
‘The defendant fell far below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver.’
Roberts, of Ammanford, South Wales, admitted causing death by careless driving, but he denies causing death by dangerous driving at Swansea Crown Court, pictured
The court heard speed investigators estimated the car was travelling up to 48mph when it crashed in December 2020.
Evidence was shown that Mr Roberts gave a alcohol reading of 54mg per 100ml of blood, when the legal limit is 80 mg.
But Ms Hughes said the test was taken some hours after the crash and experts say it would ‘not have been lower than 100.’
Roberts, of Ammanford, South Wales, admitted causing death by careless driving, which is a charge meaning the standard fell below what is expected of a driver.
But he denies causing death by dangerous driving, which means the standard of driving must fall far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
The trial continues.
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