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A driver caused a horror smash after leading police on a high-speed chase before fleeing the scene – leaving his 17-year-old passenger with fatal injuries.

Elliot Martin, 21, led officers on a pursuit while driving a Ford Focus but, after reaching speeds of more than 65mph in 30mph zones and pulling red lights, he smashed the motor into a taxi.

A court heard Martin “panicked” and ran away, leaving his two passengers unconscious in the car in Withington, Manchester.

Both suffered serious brain injuries and fractures and were rushed to Salford Royal Hospital.

Tragically, Ronaldo Johnson, 17, died seven days later and the other passenger, another young man, has suffered life-changing injuries.

Martin handed himself in at a police station and admitted what he had done, Manchester Evening News reports.

And he was jailed for six years yesterday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving; driving without a licence or insurance; and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Sentencing Martin, Judge Patrick Field KC, said: “I’m aware of the enormous loss suffered by Ronaldo’s family. What you did inflicted tragedy upon them. That happy family full of hope and expectations for the future.

“I recognise there are no sentiments that I can pass that can undo the harm that you have done.

“The force of the collision was great demonstrated by the aftermath and the consequences of the collision were tragic and passengers in both vehicles suffered awful injuries.”

“It was shameful to abandon your friends and others injured in the collision…that it took place at all is unacceptable and inexplicable.”

After the sentencing, Ronaldo’s family said: “The day we lost Ron, our lives were paused, and the void that Ron leaves will never be replaced. Elliot still has a life that he can live. Ron will be sadly missed by us all and no sentence will ever be enough.”

The court had heard Martin, from Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, skipped a red light while behind the wheel of the Ford Focus on March 31. Officers in a marked car chased him but he continued to speed, skip red lights and he drove the wrong way around a roundabout.

Chloe Fordham, prosecuting, said: “After the crash, he said he just got out and started running out of sheer panic. He said that he had no idea at the time how serious the injuries were to the others in the car.

“He said that he went home and got changed and that later in the day his friend called round to tell him about the crash and the serious injury which had been caused to his friends. As a result of this, the defendant told his mother what had happened and asked her to take him to the police station to hand himself in.”

The court heard a woman on her way home from a night out in the taxi was also badly hurt. She suffered a fractured ankle and sternum. She continues to suffer from pain from the injuries and will have to wait over a year to find out if she has arthritis as a result, the court was told.

A victim impact statement read on her behalf to the court said: “I felt I was going to pass away as I was having serious pains in my chest. I wanted to get my phone to ring loved one as I didn’t think I would see them again.”

The woman told Martin: “You have ruined not just my life, but other people’s lives. I hope you take time to think about your actions.” She added that she has suffered from severe anxiety and depression since the crash.

The driver of the taxi was left feeling pain from the crash for weeks after the incident. Ms Fordham said of Martin’s other passenger: “Since the crash he does not really chat to many people and finds it a lot of effort to go out as it is tiring to use the crutch. He says that he cannot any longer take his dog on long walks or let her off the lead.”

Ronaldo, who was studying at college and was a talented athlete, left behind his parents and five siblings. Sister Keesha read a victim impact statement on behalf of the family. “When the police knocked on our door stress entered our lives,” she said, adding that their mother ‘broke down’ when she saw Ronaldo in hospital.

“We still can’t really come to terms with this, he can never be replaced. We have a Ronaldo-sized hole that nothing will ever fill.

“We have been robbed of watching him grow up, we’ll never see him start his first job which he really wanted to do to become a man, to provide for his family and himself and to go on his first holiday at 18. We’ll never see him get married and have children.

“Part of us died when we saw him take his last breath. You should never have to bury your child. The pain prevents his parents from sleeping, it keeps them awake at night.”

A statement from Ronaldo’s mum Loraine added: “We feel guilty for being alive. We have been robbed of watching him grow up.”

His father Clinton said: “He was taken away far too soon before his prime by a coward who ran away. He had everything to live for and for his loving family. It’s a waste of a beautiful life who I was very proud of.”

Defending Martin, Simon Gurney said: “There’s nothing I can say to express the guilt he feels at his decision that night and the devastating consequences for him. He caused the death of a friend and life-changing injuries to another friend.

“He accepts there will be a lengthy sentence and it is just.”

Mr Gurney added that Martin had a very difficult upbringing and letters had been sent from his mother and a local church leader about his good character.

“No sentence can ever make right what he’s done,” he concluded.

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