A driver who callously fled the scene after fatally striking a pedestrian in Wolverhampton has been jailed for 14 years.
A Fatal Collision and a Cowardly Flight
Aden Wright was behind the wheel of a VW Golf when he hit 29-year-old Ryan Griffiths on Burleigh Road. The court heard that Wright had stopped briefly, but only to pick up a passenger before driving away, leaving Ryan seriously injured in the roadway. The victim later died in hospital from his injuries.
The Drug Deal Gone Wrong and a 'Calculated' Cover-Up
The incident occurred as Wright was attempting a rapid getaway from a failed drug transaction. Detectives established he had tried to use others in the car to buy drugs with counterfeit money. When the fake cash was discovered, he sped away, leading directly to the collision.
West Midlands Police described Wright's subsequent actions as a calculated attempt to evade justice, which inflicted "unimaginable pain" on Ryan's family. The day after the hit-and-run, he arranged for the vehicle to be moved, changed its registered keeper, and then tried to frame that individual as the driver. He maintained this false story to police, despite strong evidence placing him in the driver's seat.
Justice Served After Trial
Wright was initially charged with murder, but the Crown Prosecution Service later reduced the charge to causing death by dangerous driving. Following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in October, he was found guilty. On 4 December, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison and disqualified from driving.
A Family's Heartbreaking Tribute
In a moving tribute issued through West Midlands Police, Ryan Griffiths' family remembered a much-loved man. They said: “Ryan was a loving and devoted son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew and cousin. He had a heart of gold and a lot of loving friends. Everyone is devastated by his sad loss and he will be sadly missed.”
