Megan Murphy, 26, was sentenced to six years in prison at Bolton Crown Court for causing the death of Darryl Tomlinson, 31, by dangerous driving. The incident occurred on January 9, 2025, in Marsh Green, Wigan, when Murphy drove the wrong way down a one-way street after failing to defrost her windscreen. Darryl, who had slipped and fallen into the road after a night out, was run over, reversed over, and left trapped under her car. Despite neighbors calling 999, police and paramedics were sent to the wrong address due to a recording error, and Darryl died in the street.
Father's account of the tragedy
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Darryl's father, Paul 'Tommy' Tomlinson, described the horror of receiving the news while on holiday in Tenerife for his wife Michelle's 50th birthday. They were unable to return immediately due to weather conditions, arriving home over 12 hours later. Paul initially felt forgiveness toward Murphy, but this changed upon learning of her actions after the incident.
According to Paul, Murphy lied to police about what happened, called a friend to call Darryl a 'smackhead,' and cleared her windscreen before officers arrived. He stated, "Her first response was not ‘get him help’, she walked away and rang somebody to call him a ‘smackhead’. He never touched smack in his life."
Darryl's life and personality
Born at 26 weeks, Darryl was described as "petite" but with "the heart of a lion." He worked with his father in a catering van business and ran an inflatable penalty shootout. A devoted Wigan Athletic fan, he attended matches across all age groups. Paul recalled, "He was outgoing, funny, he loved life. He was football crazy... He would do anything for anybody."
Darryl was single with no children, but family was central to his life. He regularly visited his grandparents and helped them with shopping. Paul emphasized, "He was not just an average kid - definitely a one off."
The fatal night and investigation
On the night of his death, Darryl had been watching football and drinking with friends. CCTV showed him slipping on ice and falling into the road, where he remained for three hours, shuffling and calling friends for help. Paul noted a chip in his teeth, likely from the fall. The address given by a witness was misrecorded by the 999 operator, sending emergency services to Marsh Green Road instead of Kitt Green Road, just 200 yards away.
Murphy's actions and sentencing
Paul expressed frustration at Murphy's lack of remorse, saying she never apologized. In court, she waved at her family as she was led away. Paul commented, "To run somebody over and leave them trapped under your car... it just shows what she was concerned about." He added that the family is "continuously punished for the rest of our lives with trauma and grief."
Despite the pain, Paul holds no anger: "I’m a Christian. I’ve sworn faith in God. I forgive her - I have done since the day she did it." He had hoped Murphy would learn from the experience, but her actions suggest otherwise.
Legacy and memory
The family holds an annual Daz Team Memorial Cup to keep Darryl's memory alive. Paul described the funeral as "massive," with people lining the streets. He concluded, "It was an honour to be his dad. He is missed - that’s for sure."
