Killer drivers who caused a 'catastrophic' deadly smash when they hurtled into each other at a crossroads have been locked up for almost 18 years. Strangers Frederick Rogers, 34, and Ethan Holness, 20, were driving at 'highly dangerous' speeds when they both failed to slow down as they crossed a junction in Walsall.

They were travelling in different directions when they failed to spot one another, sparking a horror collision which killed James Sheridan. The 20-year-old had been sitting without a seatbelt on at the back of a Ford Fiesta driven by childhood friend Holness when the car flipped onto its side before smashing through a brick wall.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the collision occurred at the junction of Lichfield Road, Wolverhampton Road and Norton Road at 11.54pm on June 23, 2021. The area, which is known locally as the 'fingerpost', is controlled by a number of traffic lights.

There were no faults with the lights, with CCTV footage confirming they were working at the time. Holness - who was then just 17 - was travelling westbound along Lichfield Road in the three-door blue Ford Fiesta with Mr Sheridan and his brother.

Holness - of Dickinson Avenue, Wolverhampton - ignored an amber light, travelling at 72mph in the 30mph zone. He failed to slow down and instead 'increased his speed' as he drove across the junction, prosecutor Timothy Harrington said.

None of them were wearing seatbelts. Rogers - of Hospital Lane, Cheslyn Hay - had one passenger with him in a stolen Volkswagen Golf as he travelled northbound along Norton Road, heading towards Norton Canes.

He was driving at between 56mph and 61mph when he approached the junction, ignoring the red light. The impact caused the Ford Fiesta driven by Holness to flip on its side as it careered on to the wrong side of the carriageway..

It finally came to a stop after hurtling into 'street furniture', 'demolishing' a brick wall outside a home in Wolverhampton Road. Mr Sheridan - who was due to celebrate his 21st birthday in a few weeks - could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death was given as traumatic injuries from the road traffic collision, Mr Harrington said. Both cars were left with 'severe' damage from the impact.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/killer-drivers-who-drove-highly-28648291