Driver, 40, who killed 13-year-old girl in crash and threatened her injured friends to lie to police while they battled to save her is jailed

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:18, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 23:20, 21 August 2026 A 'reckless' driver killed a 13-year-old girl in a car crash – before threatening her friends to lie to police as they desperately tried to save her.  Dwayne Moody, 40, has been jailed for more than 12 years following the death of Evelyn Haylock, 13, during the fatal collision near Ware, Hertfordshire, on January 31. The youngster had been sitting in the front passenger seat of the Nissan Note, with two other teenagers sitting in the back, when Moody – who was uninsured and had no licence – drove them away from a party in Dane End, Hertfordshire.  He had consumed alcohol before taking another guest's car and driving off with the three teenagers. But according to witnesses, the car was seen being driven erratically and at speed, St Albans Crown Court heard. Just over a mile away from the party, as he drove up Whitehill, Moody failed to navigate a corner and the car crashed through a fence. Evelyn was seriously injured in the crash and the two other teenagers began giving her first aid and called emergency services. But as they desperately tried to help their friend, Moody ordered them to say there had been a vehicle coming in the other direction which forced them off the road. Evelyn Haylock, 13, was killed after drink-driver Dwayne Moody, 40, crashed the car she was travelling in on January 31, near Ware, Hertfordshire Moody was sentenced to 12 years and 8 months after pleading guilty to multiple offences  He then left the scene, before returning with the car's owner and threatening one of the teenagers. Moody insisted that they should lie to the police about what had happened. When police arrived, he was arrested at the scene. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and discharged with no injuries before being taken into custody. Evelyn was airlifted to hospital, but despite best efforts she died from her injuries just days later on February 4.  The two other teenagers were also taken to hospital and treated for minor soft tissue damage.  Detective Constable Lewis Stanley, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'This is a tragic case in which a young girl lost her life unnecessarily. Evelyn's family have shown immense strength throughout this investigation and our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with their devastating loss. 'Dwane Moody made a series of reckless and selfish decisions that evening. Not only did he drive dangerously, resulting in a fatal collision, but he then attempted to evade responsibility by pressuring others to provide a false account of what had happened. 'It speaks volumes of his character that he, a grown man, was trying to persuade the other passengers, both teenagers, to lie for him whilst they were trying to save Evelyn. They suffered a hugely traumatic ordeal and I would like to commend them for their brave actions. 'No sentence can undo the pain caused by Evelyn's death.' As part of a moving statement read out in court, Evelyn's mother said: 'She was a child who absolutely loved life.  'She brought an infectious energy into our home, and her presence was pure light. One of her absolute favourite places to be was on her trampoline. I can still close my eyes and see her jumping, laughing, and defying gravity, just bursting with youth and happiness.  'She had so much life left to live, so many more days to jump, play, and grow. Evelyn's feet will never touch that trampoline again. Her laughter has been permanently silenced.  'The defendant didn't just cause a crash; he shattered my entire universe.' During his statement, Evelyn's father said: 'Evelyn was the light of all our worlds, there wasn't a day that would go by without her making us laugh or smile.  'She would pop up throughout the day and say the most random things that would make us all burst out laughing.  'Our family is a chain, and she was the strongest link keeping us all together and now that link is no longer there but we are still holding on strong, never losing her name and keeping her in our hearts.' Moody was sentenced on Friday to 12 years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst uninsured and causing death whilst otherwise in accordance with a licence. He was also found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice and the aggravated taking (of a vehicle) without consent. Moody pleaded guilty to all offences at an earlier hearing. In addition to the custodial sentence, he has been banned from driving for 17 years and four months.