Woodhouse: Driver jailed after crash killed his brother and passenger

Scott Fitzgerald was driving a black Range Rover over the speed limit when he crashed and killed his passengers

A driver who killed two passengers, including his brother, while speeding has been jailed.

Scott Fitzgerald, 37, was driving over the 30mph speed limit when he hit a wall in Forest Road, Woodhouse, at about 18:20 GMT on 3 October.

The crash caused the car to rotate into the path of an oncoming vehicle before coming to a stop, police said.

This led to the death of his brother, Shane Fitzgerald, 29, and fellow passenger Daniel Witheridge, 36.

Fitzgerald left the scene of the collision, but was located by police a short time later and arrested. While under arrest, Fitzgerald also assaulted an officer.

Fitzgerald, of Manor Road, Loughborough, pleaded guilty in November to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

'Devastating consequences'

He was sentenced on 19 January at Leicester Crown Court to a total of nine years and nine months in prison. He was given an additional month for assaulting a PC.

At the sentencing hearing, he also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood following the incident.

Police said he would be disqualified from driving for eight years after his release from prison.

Det Con Charlotte Wright, of the force's serious collision investigation unit, said: "Fitzgerald never set out that day with the intention of killing anyone - but his choice to go considerably faster than the speed limit - has shattered two families and not only resulted in him being sent to prison, but also having to live with the devastating consequences of his actions."