Carl John Ferguson (Fergy)

PLEASE VISIT A NEW SITE I HAVE SET UP WITH THE HELP OF MANY GTS MEMBERS. WE NEED YOUR IDEAS AND HELP.
THE SITE IS CALLED FADD (FAMALIES AGAINST DRINK DRIVING) THANKS FOR READING. DAWN. XXXXXXXX

in memory of carl john ferguson 23/06/87 - 18/03/06


Carl John Ferguson or Fergy to his friends was born in Pontefract General Infirmary on the 23rd of June 1987. The only child of Dawn and John Ferguson, Carl was a pupil of Throstle Farm Infants & Junior School followed by Knottingley High School & Sports Academy. He was always the Joker and was always up to something! - Nothing bad, but he could be naughty and frequently would get away with it once you looked into those big deep eyes (Smiles). Carl spent his time living in Knottingley and Pontefract after he left school. It was during the time after leaving school that Carl was drawn to the Army. I am reminded of how he loved the fact that his Big Uncle Dave was in the Army. He loved to see him coming home on leave with his kit and loved walking round wearing his Beret - even though it was 10 sizes too big!. He applied for and was accepted for Army training and one day he packed his bags and set out into the Big Bad World! His training was conducted at Infantry Training Battalion in Catterick Garrison.

Set to Join The Light Infantry, Carl was enjoying his training and enjoying the Army Life - but something was missing. As with many young people - he was missing his home, his parents, his family and most importantly, his friends. The Army has changed from my day when you were told what to do by a "Big Bad Sergeant", and you did whatever was asked - without pause or hesitation or question for that matter! - the Army trains young kids today to think for themselves now, and when you are in a Combat Zone looking down the barrel of a rifle at someone, young kids have to think about the consequences of pulling the trigger before they actually do it, and for a young 17 year old - that can be a battle itself and I take my hat off to all members of the Services today. It was with this in mind, Carl decided to defer his training for a year or so. Carl told his family of his decision, and on the whole they were supportive of the mature decision he was making not knowing that less than 8 months later, Carl would be dead and unable to return to his career.

Carl returned home and spent his last Christmas with his family and friends, Enjoying life as every teenager should do.
2006 brought a new Job to keep him going during the time he was away from the Army, and also a new Girlfriend.

Friday 17th March 2006 was just like any other day, carl came home from work and spent time getting ready for a night out with friends, Dawn - his mother remember's listening to Carl getting ready while DJ Sammy's Heaven played in the background. All too soon, Carl was heading out of the door ready to party the night away. We know he spent time at Kiko's Nightclub in Pontefract - the picture on this mainpage was taken on a friends mobile phone whilst in kiko's on that night.


Carl had been on a night out with a friend on the night of Friday 17th march 2006. He and his friend were walking back towards Knottingley, when they were offered a lift by jamie crozier. Unbeknown to Carl, jamie had consumed 4 pints of lager and up to 5 further bottles of Lager. There were now 4 occupants in the Peugeot 206 car, one driving, one in the front passenger seat, and then Carl and his friend in the rear with Carl seated behind the driver.

The 4 young men ended up in Wakefield, and it was on the way home that the crash occured. the driver went througn a set of traffic lights at an excessive speed, failed to negotiate the left hand bend and lost control fully of the car. It ploughed sideways into a small tree some 100 to 200 metres from the bend. Carl took the full impact of the crash .

In his Pre sentence remarks, Judge James Stewart QC said to jamie crozier
"It is true you stayed at the scene to wait for the police but then you set to excuse your behaviour saying that you swerved to avoid a car. This was a plain indication to me you were thinking about yourself and not the unfortunate Carl Ferguson who was lying unconscious in hospital to die two hours later".

Carl was cremated on Friday 31st March 2006 following a Funeral service at St Botolph's church in Knottingley. The Music being played here as you read this was actually the same music played on that day - both in Church, and at the Crematorium. My eye's were opened that day as I walked into Church, Me and my family were the last people into the Church and There were people sitting in the Aisles, standing in the doorway and also outside! I was struck at just how many Friends Carl had and the sense of Reverence eminating from that small Parish Church.

It is clear from the hundreds of messages received on his main memorial website at www.rememberingfergy.piczo.com that Carl was much loved and well thought of, many friends talk of his ability to light up a room, his smile, his joker attitude, his ability to lighten any situation, and many people - mostly his female friends talk of his eyes.

Carl was a fanatical supporter of Leeds United Football Club, which was quite evident judging by the kind of floral tributes that can be seen on the pictures in the photo gallery.

Fergy will be missed by all those who knew him, the memories we all carry with us will ensure he will live on in our hearts till we all meet up again.

Carl's Death was more than just a Tragedy or an accident. serious questions remain unanswered about what happened to cause the car Carl was a passenger in to lose control and crash, Unfortunately for the family and friends of Carl, only time will tell as to whether we can get some closure.
a 22 year old male was charged with causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs on 8th Jan 07 and pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on 15th Jan 07. On 20th Feb 07, the driver responsible for causing Carl's death by drink Driving was sentenced to a 4 years in Prison and a 5 Year Driving Ban. He will serve only 2 years for killing Carl.

jamie crozier who killed Carl had only just completed a 12 month Drink Driving ban in DECEMBER 2005. Just 3 months later he Killed Carl when Drink Driving. Despite this, The law allowed him to continue driving for a further 10 months until convicted. The Law at the moment only allows a temporary suspension of someones driving licence when they have been convicted. We are petitioning the Prime Minister to give the Police the power to suspend any drivers licence once a positive test has been obtained. We are asking that the safety of the Public is paramount in the law relating to drink driving or driving on drugs.

Campaign news, and other ways of helping with this campaign can be found on Carl's main memorial website which can be found at -

www.rememberingfergy.piczo.com
(no spaces between digits)

Pontefract & Castleford Express - Front Page - 1st Feb 07

DEATH DRIVER STILL AT WHEEL!

A GRIEVING mum of a teenage car crash victim has slammed the law for allowing drink-drivers back behind the wheel.

Dawn Ferguson said it's "unbelievable" that drivers who test positive for alcohol after an accident can return to the roads until they are sentenced by a judge or magistrates.
Her son, Carl, 18, was killed when he was a rear passenger in a car which smashed into a tree at Heath Common, Wakefield, on March 18 last year.
The driver, 22-year-old Jamie Crozier, of Eastbourne Terrace, Pontefract, has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit and is due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on February 20 – but Ms Ferguson is angry that he has been allowed to continue driving since the accident.
She now plans to launch a campaign – with the help of her brother in Northern Ireland, Dave Malcolm – to change the law.
Ms Ferguson, of Stumpcross Close, Pontefract, told the Express: "I think it's unbelievable that he's still allowed to drive.
"If you do something wrong at work, you get suspended until it's been sorted out.
"They say innocent until proven guilty but they tested him and he was over the limit.
"He pleaded guilty at court a few weeks ago, but to me it should have started after the accident, when he provided a positive breath test. I just don't understand it. It's so wrong and I feel the law should be changed.
"The accident happened ten months ago and he has been driving all that time. It's ridiculous.
"Once we get this campaign up and running, we are never going to stop. We feel that if a death or accident has occurred and the driver is found to be over the drink-drive limit, they should have their licence suspended with immediate effect.
"Until it happens to you, you don't think about it. But obviously it has happened to me and I'm sat thinking that my life sentence has already started and he can still drive.
"Carl was my only child, I won't see him marry and settle down with a family of his own. Everything that people take for granted has been taken away from him, and me.
"I have gone through these last ten months knowing that I can't see Carl again, I can't celebrate special occasions with him and he can't have a part of him carrying on for generations to come.
"My son was far too good to be wiped off this earth for me to sit back and do nothing. I refuse to do that."
The law as it stands allows an interim disqualification, after a conviction or a guilty plea, to be issued by judges or magistrates, at their discretion.
Sgt Duncan Street, of Wakefield road traffic, said: "From my experience, I have never dealt with a fatal collision where that person, in the time before the sentence, has gone on to do the same again.
"At the end of the day, my job is to make the roads a safer place and I will support anything which helps this. I have spoken to our senior lawyer to see if there is an opportunity we can do this. If someone has pleaded guilty, or been convicted, then maybe the prosecution should be able to say: 'Can we consider an interim disqulification before sentencing?'. If they are going to be disqualified anyway, why not start the ban earlier.
"If Ms Ferguson would like to talk about this, she can ring me at any time." Article by Jo Rostron which appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Wednesday 21st Feb 2007

DRUNKEN DRIVER WHO KILLED FRIEND IS JAILED

A CARE worker who caused the death of a friend in a drink-drive road smash has been jailed for four years.
Jamie Crozier, 22, was twice the legal alcohol limit when his car crashed into a tree at Heath Common, Wakefield, killing 18-year-old rear passenger Carl Ferguson.
Leeds Crown Court heard Crozier completed a year's driving ban for a previous drink-driving offence just three months before the tragedy in March last year.
Carl's mother, Dawn, is launching a campaign to change the law which currently allows drink-drivers back behind the wheel after an accident.
Crozier, of Eastbourne Terrace, Pontefract, was jailed after he admitted causing death by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit. He was also banned from driving for five years.
Tearful families of both the victim and Crozier packed the courtroom yesterday to hear his fate.
Sentencing Crozier, Judge James Stewart QC said: "By your own stupidity, you snuffed out the life of a young man who had a wonderful future and a loving family."
The court heard Crozier had downed up to four pints and five bottles of lager before getting behind the wheel, with his brother, Nile, as front passenger.
They were heading out of Pontefract towards Wakefield, when they saw Carl and another friend in the street and offered them a lift.
The four drove into Wakefield before heading back to Pontefract when the accident happened at 5.30am, the court heard.
Crozier lost control at the junction of Doncaster Road and Black Road. His car spun around and hit a tree. An expert estimated Crozier was travelling at over 50mph in the 40mph zone.
Carl, who lived with his father John, on Great North Road, Knottingley, died hours later of head injuries.
The former Knottingley High School pupil was known as a keen Leeds United fan.
In mitigation, Neil Clark said Crozier had been distressed, anxious and having nightmares since the accident. He had worked as a volunteer before finding employment as a carer working with young people with learning difficulties.
The judge told Crozier: "You have excellent references. You work in the public service looking after those more disadvantaged than yourself, but those who drink and drive carelessly causing death commit a very grave crime."
After the case Dawn Ferguson, 40, of Stumpcross Close, Pontefract, said she was pleased with the sentence but vowed to fight for a change in the law.
"It's closure and it's the opening of a campaign. Drink drivers can carry on driving until they get to court. This has gone on for 11 months," she said.
She wants to change the current law that allows drivers who test positive for alcohol after an accident to return to the roads until they are sentenced by a judge or magistrates.
To support the campaign log onto www.rememberingfergy.piczo.com and sign the online petition.
jo.rostron@ypn.co.uk 22 yr old Jamie Crozier Jailed on 20/2/07 for Carl's death
Picture (c) YPN Report by Joanna Wardill which appeared in the Pontefract and Castleford Express - 22nd February 2007 (Front Page)

JUSTICE AT LAST!

DEVASTATED mum Dawn Ferguson says she can now begin to grieve after the drink-driver who killed her teenage son was jailed.

Jamie Crozier, aged 22, of Eastbourne Terrace, Pontefract, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday to four years in prison and banned from driving for five years after admitting causing the death of 18-year-old Carl Ferguson by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit.
The court heard Crozier had only just completed an 12-month ban for a previous charge of drink-driving when the fatal smash occurred at 5.30am on March 18 at Heath Common in Wakefield last year.
John Davison, prosecuting, told the court Crozier's brother, Niall, was also arrested for attempting to pervert the course of justice for supporting Crozier's story that he had had to swerve because of another car – something an eyewitness and a fourth passenger in the car said was untrue.
But this matter was not pursued by the police.
Ms Ferguson, of Stumpcross Close, Pontefract, launched a campaign earlier this month, as reported in the Express, to ban drink-drivers immediately after an accident.
Speaking after Tuesday's hearing, she said: "I think it's terrible that Crozier had been banned for drink-driving before and hadn't learned his lesson. Just three months after his first ban ended, he killed my son by doing it again.
"But I am more than happy with his sentence. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted now. This has been going on for 11 months and I haven't really started grieving yet – everything has been up in the air and I've been too stressed.
"We also have a campaign to get on with now. Police should have the power to take away a drink-driver's licence immediately and not have to wait until they are in front of a court. Crozier was driving for ten months after he killed Carl before he was banned and to me that's wrong."
The court heard Crozier had drunk four pints and five bottles of lager and was driving to Wakefield with his brother when they offered a lift to Carl and his friend who were walking home.
The group looked for nightlife in Wakefield but finding there was none, set off on their way back to Pontefract.
Mr Davison said Crozier was driving in excess of 50mph, in a 40mph zone, when he lost control on a left-hand bend and smashed side-on into a tree.
Rear passenger Carl never regained consciousness and died two hours later in hospital of head injuries.
Crozier gave a positive alcohol breath test to attending officers and was arrested at the scene.
Mr Davison added: "It appears he didn't understand how serious the matter was because he replied (to officers]: 'Shows how f****** caring I am – what have I done?'"
Neil Clark, mitigating, said Crozier had suffered from anxiety, distress and nightmares since the accident and was a caring person who had worked as a volunteer before finding full-time employment looking after people with learning difficulties.
Sentencing Crozier, Judge James Stewart QC said: "It is true you stayed at the scene to wait for the police but then you set to excuse your behaviour saying that you swerved to avoid a car. This was a plain indication to me you were thinking about yourself and not the unfortunate Carl Ferguson who was lying unconscious in hospital to die two hours later.
"Your breath level shows you were at the time driving almost twice the limit. You have a previous conviction for exactly that offence.
"It is a tragedy that you didn't learn from that mistake.By your stupidity you snuffed out the life of that young man who had a wonderful future ahead of him and a loving family."
To support Dawn Ferguson's campaign – which has now been backed by two national charities: Campaign Against Drink and Driving (CADD) and Support And Care After Road Death (SCARD) – sign the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Campaign4Carl or log on to www.rememberingfergy.piczo.com The tree on Black Road where Jamie Crozier smashed his car into on the morning of 18th march 07 22 year old Jamie Crozier pictured leaving Leeds Crown Court on 2nd of february 07 after being suspended from driving. On the 20th of Feb 07 he was sentenced to 4 Years in prison for causing Carls death. STATEMENT FROM DAWN FERGUSON - CARL'S MOTHER
21ST FEBRUARY 2007

Yesterday, Tuesday 20th feb 07 was a very stressful day, but i need to thank all the people who were there to support me and help me through the day, and also the people who couldnt be with me but texted and phoned to let me know that they were with me. As already has been published on this site Jamie Crozier was yesterday sentenced to 4 years in prison for causing the death of my beautiful son. people say that this is not long enough, but i am satisfied that justice has been done. No amount of time could bring carl back, and now we have a closure on this and we are all now able to move on. As for jamie - well words fail me. Not once has he said sorry for what he has done, so in my eyes (and this could be debateable by members of the crozier family) he has no remorse at all for what has happend. The defence said that he has had nightmares since the accident, and im sure if he had of wanted to say sorry he would have done so through his solicitor/barrister. My feelings for Jamie crozier are non existant. If he does care about what he has done then he will carry his guilt around with him for the rest of his life. What is so very upsetting is that had crozier learnt his lesson the first time he got banned for drink driving, then my son would probably still be here today. It has been stated in court and in the press that jamie lost his licence on 6th dec 04 where he was given a 12 month ban, and then 3 months and 12 days later he did it again but this time with much more severe consequences. This time my son was killed. A member of the crozier family has e mailed my brother and asked the question "is is correct to say that carl was fostered?" How cruel can somebody be i ask you? To put the record straight carl was never fostered, and this insinuation has caused me a lot of distress which i feel was very inappropriate especially 10 days before sentencing. Everybody that knew carl knows that he was loved so very much by myself and carls dad and both sets of family. Carl was not perfect not by a long shot, but he knew right from wrong and im sure my ex husband would agree that we were all very proud of carl. After the events of yesterday this is a closure for me and i now feel able to start to grieve and move on with my life. Carl will be with me always, and his memory will last with a lot of people for alot of years to come. It has been a very stressful 11 months and 3 days, and i would not of been able to go on the way i have without the help of certain people, and i wish to thank a few people today. Firstly Ian (my partner) you have been absalutley fantastic you have helped me so very much you will never know. To my dad and chris, you have both been there for me day and night even tho u have both had illnesses to deal with. I cant thank you enough. My brother david and my sis in law val. They have worked so hard to set this website up and it has got to of been hard just to print facts as they come in especially knowing what we knew and had to keep quiet until it came into the public domain. my sis paula has been a huge help and travelled overnight from bournmouth to be with me on tuesday even though she is very ill at the mo. My nephew david, who has taken this so hard is also is an only child and considered carl more of a bro than a cousin. U have helped me alot thank you. To all my mates u all know who you are you are the best mates anybody could ever want and in your own indavidual way you have all been fab. Carls mates you have kept me sane telling me little snippits of what carl used to get up to, thanks for stayin in touch. To pc's john spence and jez hepworth. I really cant thank you both enough, you have been honest with me throughout these months and i am so very glad that you both attended court to watch jamie get his sentence, and justice to be done. Thanks lads. To the two jo's (pontefract and castleford express and yorkshire evening post) you have reported the truth and helped promote this website thanks ever so much. Last but not least to every single person who has viewed this website, and more so to all the people who have posted comments on the site it has so helped me and i will be eternally grateful. We the family are now on a mission. At the moment the police or cps can apply to a magistrate to have a temporary disqualification given to any drink driver only once a conviction has been obtained. This is wrong! the police should have the power to issue this when a positive breath test is confirmed, to keep these people off the road until such time that they appear in court. We need to keep these people off the roads, it can also act as a deterrent. we should have zero tolerence for drink drivers regardless if they are pulled at the road side or involved in an accident or fatal accident, and this is why we have the online petition. I strongly urge you all to sign it please. Over coming weeks this campaign will be fully up and running and i hope that it gets to a national level where petitions will be in view for the citizens of this country to sign and then they can be passed on to tony blair and the transport secretary 4 debate & action. nothing will bring carl back, but this could possibly save the lives of many people. For arguments sake, wot if a drink driver caused an accident and was allowed to carry on driving till he/she went to court which could be months away and they continued to drive and drink and caused another accident? how bad is that? this didnt happen in my case but wot if it did? I would never be able to forgive myself knowing that this person was still on the road, but at the end of the day it is the government fault. I would never wish anybody to go through wot i have been through, but its happening as i type this now. Another life lost way too soon. Please sign our petition and print off your own and lets show people that we are caring and we need to make a change. Thank you so much. kind regards and many thanks to everybody who has helped me to get through this very very sad time. One last thank you and that has to be to my son carl. Thank you so much for coming into my life and for making me so proud of you. your heart of gold and the way you made me last will be with me till my dying day. till we meet again love u so much always and forever. mumxxxxx LORD LENDS SUPPORT TO CAMPAIGN4CARL - Pontefract & Castleford Express
(Published 14th June 2007)

Article by Joanna Wardill

VETERAN politician Lord Lofthouse has pledged his support to a grieving
family's campaign to change the law on drink-driving.
As previously reported in the Express, mum Dawn Ferguson, of
Stumpcross Close, Pontefract, set up Campaign 4 Carl - with the help of her
brother Dave Macolm - to ban drink drivers from the roads as soon as they give a positive breath test, and not wait for their appearance in court.
Dawn's son Carl, 18, was killed by drink-driver Jamie Crozier, 22, of
Eastbourne Terrace, Pontefract, in March 2006, who was jailed for four
years in Feburary this year.
The campaign was launched after Crozier was allowed to continue
driving for 11 months after the accident - which the Ferguson family say is
wrong.
Lord Lofthouse this week said he has written to Home Secretary John
Reid and the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport Stephen
Ladyman with the family's concerns.
Lord Lofhouse said: "I am very sympathetic to their views of Mrs
Ferguson and Mr Malcolm. "I have written to the government and will make further efforts to bring this to the public attention.
"When young people lose their lives it's appalling and the people
responsible should have to pay the penalty."
Mr Ladyman said a report published in February commits his department
to consult on further measures against drink drivers and a discussion of
these is planned for November.
He said this would provide an opportunity to consider the suggestions
of Campaign 4 Carl.
Dawn Ferguson said: "I think it's brilliant that Lord Lofthouse has
acknowledged the fact that there's a problem and he is doing what he
can to help, so we thank him for that."
She also urged people to sign the online petition to the Prime Minister
before its deadline of August 6.
She said: "This is a subject which affects many people. Most people
know someone who has been affected by drink driving."
Her brother, Mr Malcolm, said: "I find it insulting to all drink drive
victims and their families that the government choose to drag its
heels and deny a problem exsists. Families find themselves in the same
position we were in - knowing that the person responsible for their
child's death is still driving on the roads - and that is a hard pill
to swallow."
To sign the petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Campaign4Carl Dawn Ferguson - the mother of Drink Drive Victim Carl Ferguson Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract Dave Malcolm, Carl Ferguson's Uncle View High Resolution
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