Matthew Hesketh, 18, died after the car collided with a taxi on Preston Road, Longridge.
The Judge at Preston crown court said his family had suffered an
unimaginable loss and no sentence could satisfy their anger and grief
Adam Catterall, 19, of Mill Lane, Goosnargh, had denied causing death by dangerous driving in February last year.
He admitted careless driving, and was fined £1,000 and banned from
driving for 18 months.
Judge Heather Lloyd had earlier told the jury they would not hear a sadder case.
The trial heard that the car skidded onto the opposite side of the
road and hit a taxi.
Catterall told the court that he overtook two vehicles, but had
pulled back into his own lane before a bend.
He said the car then began to slide to the left and he tried to
correct it.
The court also heard reports that the stretch of road was below par and
showing signs of wear and tear.
The jury reached its not guilty verdict after considering the
evidence for almost five and a half hours.
Mr Simon Newell, defending, said Catterall was a student working
part-time and he was of previous good character.
The Judge told Catterall: "Whatever the sentence nothing
will ever possibly or could ever possibly satisfy the grief and anger of
Matthew's family. Their loss is unimaginable. Matthew was much loved and had hope and anticipation for the future."
"As a result of what you did that night Matthew died, your friend was
injured and the taxi driver. You got off lightly. You will have your
health and your life in front of you," she added.
She added: "You did not expect or want this to happen."
"The greatest sentence is knowing what happened that night and that you
were responsible for that," said the judge.
Judge Lloyd passed on her condolences to Matthew's family. Some left
court crying during the sentencing remarks.