Driver who did 118mph in 30mph area jailed for killing grandma in head-on Rochdale collision

A speeding driver who did 118mph in a 30mph residential area and killed a grandmother in a head-on collision last year, has been jailed. Trent Jason Simm was sentenced to seven years in jail at Minshull Street Crown Court following a fatal collision which killed Doris Bridgehouse, 82, and injured her daughter and grandson.

Police said the 24-year-old treated the road as his “personal racetrack” when he hit Mrs Bridgehouse’ car in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on May 13, 2022, who was driving her daughter and grandson home after visiting his university showcase. Simm admitted causing death by dangerous driving. 

The court heard Simm was driving his Audi S3 along Halifax Road at excessive speeds when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a left-hand bend and veered into the opposite lane, hitting Mrs Bridgehouse’s Kia Venga that she was driving at an average speed of 27mph at about 10.55pm. 

Moments before the collision he was travelling at 118mph on a 30mph road. As the Audi S3 entered the left-hand bend, Forensic Collision Reconstruction Experts confirmed a loss of control was inevitable.

The retired nurse was killed instantly while her daughter and her grandson sustained serious injuries. Evidence gathered from CCTV and the Audi S3 showed that Simm had been driving at excessive speeds for a prolonged period as he travelled along Halifax Road towards Rochdale. Some 200 metres prior to the collision the Audi S3 was travelling around 112 mph.

When officers initially spoke to Simm, he claimed “the pedals got stuck, and I’ve come round the corner on the wrong side of the road.” He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

At court, her daughter Amanda read a statement saying her mum’s death “changed my family and I forever.” She said: Given my son Max the most dreadful, shocking, and incomprehensible memories and had a catastrophic impact on both my sons lives. You have robbed me and my sons of “goodbye” to Mum and Nan and me of being the Mum that I want to be to my sons right now. 

“This is very difficult, and you are going to have to live with your actions for the rest of your life. As much as you have destroyed the dynamics of our family, I think that you have also destroyed a part of your own and your family’s. I do not feel sorry for you at all; driving at those speeds you are liable to kill someone, and you did. So, actions have consequences and here we are. Rest In Peace, Mum.”

Simm was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison and disqualified from driving for five years to commence when release from prison for Causing Death by Dangerous Driving and Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving to two passengers in Mrs Bridgehouse's vehicle.

Sergeant Louise Warhurst from GMP’S Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “What had started out as a special celebratory occasion for Doris and her family ended in tragedy when through no fault of her own, she encountered Trent Simm driving his Audi S3 at manifestly dangerous speeds. Trent Simm was treating the public highway as his personal racetrack, reaching astonishing speeds of 118mph in a 30mph residential area. He had no regard whatsoever for the safety of all other members of the public using the roads in Rochdale that evening.

"I would like to thank all the members of the public that tried to assist Doris and her family at the scene of this collision and everyone that came forward to assist the police with their investigation.

"I would like to thank the family, friends and loved ones of Doris, who have conducted themselves with dignity throughout this investigation. I would also like to remind those who think they can ignore the speed limit to think twice before using their car at high speeds. Your actions can devastate innocent members of the public in a split second and no one deserves to lose a loved one this way."