The grieving family of a teenager who died after being thrown from an unroadworthy car are urging people to think twice during a national road safety campaign this month. John and Karen Rowlands say their lives stopped the day their son Andrew was killed after the 4x4 he was in flipped and crashed on the A692 in June last year. The dangerous vehicle did not have an MOT and had been bought the day before for just £100. “Andrew had everything in front of him,” Mr Rowlands said. “He had a lot of things going for him and unfortunately Andrew made a mistake. He always saw the best in people, never the worst and unfortunately, he trusted someone that day that had an unroadworthy vehicle, couldn’t drive that vehicle, had no previous driving experience and no licence. “It was atrocious, and you could argue that that one misjudgement cost him his life.” The 4x4 was driven by the then 17-year-old Dylan Brunton who cowardly fled the scene along with the two other passengers following the crash. Brunton, of Dene View, East Stanley, is currently serving a 32-month prison sentence in a young offenders’ institute whilst the Rowlands family are still coming to terms with the loss of Andrew and continue to suffer with grief. Life without Andrew is so painful, that the family plan to sell their dream home as it is a constant reminder of their loss. “What people don’t appreciate is that they can only see what they read in the paper but it’s the after effects,” Mr Rowlands added. “It’s not only taken Andrew’s life, but it’s destroyed us as a family – the knock-on effect, the emotional side, the feelings. “It’s really just awful and I could talk for hours about it but it’s not until you’ve been in our shoes that you can understand. “I really wish Andrew hadn’t got in that car and we weren’t having this conversation but he did. I just want people to think before they do things and that could save your life. Think about the decisions your make – do you really know that person, can you trust them in a vehicle?” Mr and Mrs Rowlands, along with their daughter Rebecca, are supporting Durham Constabulary’s Tyre Safety Month which encourages drivers to ACT by checking their Air pressure, Condition and Tread at least once a month and before long journeys. “Andrew’s death could have been prevented in so many ways that day,” Mr Rowlands added. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing but if Andrew had done some more checks and knew a bit more about this guy then he would not be sitting in prison today and Andrew would still be here.” He added: “Unfortunately Andrew woke up on the morning of June 18, 2020 but he never woke up on June 19.” Inspector Kev Salter, of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, praised the Rowlands family for their courage in sharing Andrew’s story and urged others to heed the warning to make sure their vehicles are roadworthy. He said: “Andrew’s death was tragic and the grief his family feel is something we will never be able to understand. “Andrew might have lived if Brunton’s vehicle had been roadworthy and whilst an extreme case, it shows how all drivers have a responsibility to make sure their vehicle is safe. “If you don’t feel confident checking your car, most reputable garages will do it free of charge - don’t risk your life or the lives of others.” For more information about road and vehicle safety visit Road and Vehicle Safety (durham.police.uk)