Joe McAldon was just 17 when he lost control of his speeding Vauxhall Corsa and crashed into a wall
17:17, 15 May 2026Updated 17:17, 15 May 2026
Max Greenhouse, 17, died when the car he was a passenger in collided with a stone wall
A teenage driver who killed his friend in a horror crash has been jailed. Joe McAldon, who was 17 at the time, had passed his driving test just six days before he killed Max Greenhouse, and badly injured two other passengers when he lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa.
Preston Crown Court heard how McAldon picked 17-year-old Max and two other friends – both boys, aged 16 and 17 at the time, before going for a drive up to the nearby Clieves Hill in Aughton on December 11 2024. He later drove away from Clieves Hill, and was speeding down rural Fir Tree Lane when he lost control of his car and collided with the stone wall of a farmhouse shortly after 9pm.
Witnesses described hearing a bang as the car struck the wall, and then McAldon began shouting, “I need to get out”. Emergency services were called with paramedics working to treat the injured passengers.
All four of the car’s occupants were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals Max died a short time later.
Police investigating the crash concluded McAldon would have been driving at at least 57mph. Experts said the bend where he lost control of the car could easily have been navigated if he had been driving at the speed limit of the road – 40mph.
After he was released from hospital McAldon was interviewed under caution. He gave Lancashire Police Officers a prepared statement, stating he couldn’t remember the collision. He answered no comment to further questions.
McAldon, now 18, of Ridgeway Drive, Lydiate, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving and two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Appearing back in the dock today, Friday May 15, McAldon was sentenced to four years custody and was disqualified from driving for eight years.
In a tribute, Max’s family said: “Our son, Max, was just 17 years old. He was a loving, caring boy who brought so much warmth and kindness into the lives of everyone who knew him. He had his whole life ahead of him-his plans, his dreams, his future—all taken away in an instant.
“The actions of one individual have torn our world apart in a way that words can barely describe. No sentence can ever make up for the loss we now live every single day.
“We will never get over losing Max. There will always be an empty space in our lives where he should be-at home with us, laughing with his friends, growing into the person he was meant to become.
“We hope this case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences dangerous driving can have. One reckless decision can destroy lives-not only for those directly involved, but for the families and communities left behind.
“Max deserved the chance to live his life. That chance has been taken from him, and from us, forever.”
Det Sgt Joe Ghigi of Lancashire Police said: “McAldon’s choice to drive dangerously, without care for those in his car, or around him, took his friend’s life.
“It’s clear from his family’s statement that Max was a dearly loved young man, who, at only 17, had a long life ahead of him.
“McAldon has not only deprived Max of his life, but has significantly impacted the lives of his friends who were also in the car, and his own life too.
“He was a new driver, and did what many people do in the days after they passed their test – took his friends out for a drive. What McAldon also did though, was drive dangerously, speed down rural country lanes, and put himself and his friends at risk. He was responsible for Max’s death, because of the way he was driving.
“No sentence will bring Max back to his loved ones, or make the lives of his other friends in the car the exact same as before, but I hope that they, and Max’s loved ones can begin to rebuild their lives knowing that McAldon has admitted his actions, and has been brought to justice. I hope McAldon can use his custodial term to reflect on his actions.
“If you are reading this, and are someone who thinks it is acceptable to drive in the manner that McAldon did, I want you to see this as an example of the devastation of your impulsive and reckless choices can have.
“Driving laws are there for a reason – not to spoil your fun, but to save lives. If you know someone who drives dangerously, or witness dangerous driving, please, remember the consequences, do the responsible thing, and report it to us.”