Two cousins have been sentenced following a fatal crash in Chatham that claimed the life of 25-year-old Jason Bale. Tryon Francois, 29, and David Francois, 49, caused the collision after a night of heavy drinking.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Friday, 26 November 2021, following a family party in Lordswood. Dashcam footage captured the cousins arguing over who should drive the Ford Transit van. After nearly hitting a fence, the pair swapped seats, with Tryon taking the wheel and speeding recklessly along Luton Road, mounting pavements, and crashing through brick walls and iron fences.
Jason Bale was standing near one of the walls when the van struck it, throwing him into a front garden. The crash also ruptured a nearby gas main, creating a potentially dangerous leak.
Both Tryon and David Francois have been remanded in custody and are facing jail sentences for their roles in this fatal and reckless incident. Police continue to emphasise the dangers of drink-driving following the tragedy.
