A Bucks teenager who was high on laughing gas behind the wheel of his van when he ploughed into a car, killing two elderly passengers, has been jailed for more than nine years.

Eighteen-year-old William Thompson, from Marroway in Weston Turville, was seen driving his Peugeot Expert Pro van in a “stupidly fast and aggressive” manner by witnesses on the A41, near the turning for Chesham and Berkhamsted, on May 7, 2017.

Just after 11.30pm, Thompson began to perform an overtake manoeuvre from the left lane to the right but struck the rear of a Nissan Micra, killing two of the passengers, Jean Malone, aged 76, and her 66-year-old friend Mary Davis, who was from Stoke Mandeville.

Jean and Mary had been on their way back from a regular bingo night when the crash happened.

The force of the crash caused the Nissan to flip several times before it came to rest on the carriageway and sadly both Jean and Mary suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

The driver of the Nissan, a man, suffered minor injuries and had to go to hospital.

Thompson, who was 17 at the time of the crash and had been driving for less than six months, suffered a cut to his arm.

He was escorted to hospital by officers for treatment before being arrested on suspicion of causing two deaths by dangerous driving.

A number of canisters containing nitrous oxide – more commonly known as laughing gas – were found both in Thompson’s van and on the carriageway, along with a number of balloons.

When inhaled, nitrous oxide can cause feelings of euphoria, dizziness, difficulty in thinking straight, fits of laughter, sound distortions or even hallucinations.

Several witness accounts stated that Thompson drove past them with the van’s interior light on, meaning they were able to see him holding a balloon to his mouth and inhaling the gas as he passed them.

It is estimated that while it was limited by law to travel at 70mph on dual carriageways, Thompson’s van was travelling between 78mph and 91mph at the time of the crash.

Herts Police officers investigated the crash and could find no other reason for the crash other than the manner of Thompson’s driving and the fact he was inhaling nitrous oxide at the wheel.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, May 18 for nine years and 10 months. He was also banned from driving for six and a half years.

PC Andy Ralph, who investigated the incident alongside colleague and Investigator David McGorrell, said: “This was a highly distressing incident for all involved and one that would have been completely avoidable had Thompson made a different decision that night.

“There is never an excuse for driving under the influence of any substance that could impede your ability behind the wheel.

“To lose a loved one in any circumstance is unthinkable, but in this situation it is especially heart-breaking.

“Thompson’s stupidity has taken the lives of two wonderful ladies who were on their way home from running their regular bingo night in Hendon when the collision occurred.

“Now those who have been left behind will have to deal with a lifetime of emotional suffering.

“I know nothing will bring Jean and Mary back, but I hope seeing Thompson put behind bars will help their families’ gain some sort of closure on what has been an extremely traumatic time for them.”