Ian Wyn Edwards jailed over A494 death of Lona Wyn Jones
A man who was accused of racing another driver when he lost control, killing a woman in the back of his car, has been jailed for almost four years.
Carer Lona Wyn Jones, 22, died on the A494 near Bala, Gwynedd, in May 2012 after the car ended up on its roof.
The judge told Ian Wyn Edwards, 24, from Bala, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, he could never "make good the heartache" caused.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard he had driven like a "lunatic".
A second driver, Reece Childs, 19, also from Bala, was cleared by a jury at Caernarfon in June after he denied he was racing Edwards when the crash happened.
The court heard that shortly before the crash, a woman who was with her husband in a car which was overtaken by both drivers had commented: "They are driving like lunatics, somebody is going to die."
Karl Scholz, prosecuting, said: "In the light of the jury's verdict we can't say Mr Childs was racing with this defendant."
But Edwards was going to race him and had been "far too close" behind Childs, and pulled out to overtake.
Mr Scholz said Edwards, who lost two fingers in the crash, told a doctor he had been driving at about 80mph as he sought to overtake Mr Childs.
He swerved to avoid the other man's Vauxhall Corsa which apparently crossed the central line of the road, and his Ford Fiesta went out of control and ended up on its roof.
Ms Jones died at the scene from head injuries.
Stephen Edwards, defending, said Edwards was remorseful and accepted he had to be punished for his "foolishness and immaturity".
Edwards was jailed for a total of three years and nine months after a previous month-long suspended sentence for assault was included.
He was also given a four-year driving ban and must take an extended test.
The judge, Recorder Timothy Petts, told him: "I am acutely aware no sentence I can pass can do anything to turn back the clock for Lona's family and friends.
"She was a young woman with a promising future. She was described as happy, well and full of life on the day of her death.
"Her family and friends have my profound sympathy."
The judge said Edwards, a binman who is now unable to work, had been driving aggressively and far too fast and close to the car ahead of him.