Bridlington woman admits causing death of young boy’s parents
A woman whose careless driving killed two people and seriously injured a young boy on rural roads in Bridlington has pleaded guilty following her appearance at Hull Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday, November 25).
Laila Barnard-Wigley, 27-years-old, of Thoresby Avenue in Bridlington, has pleaded guilty to two counts of death by careless driving.
On Friday, May 7 2021 officers were called to a collision between a black Mercedes GLA and a red Peugeot 2008 on the A165 at the junction of Grindale Road in Bridlington at around 3.30pm.
Emergency services were immediately deployed, and the driver of the Peugeot, a 29-year-old man, and his front seat passenger, a 28-year-old woman, sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and were pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.
A young boy, who was two-years-old at the time, also travelling in the Peugeot was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries but survived.
The driver of the Mercedes, later identified as 23-year-old Barnard-Wigley, sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and was also taken to hospital for treatment.
An investigation was immediately launched by the Serious Collisions Unit to ascertain the full circumstances around the collision, and from initial enquiries, it was established that Barnard-Wigley was driving carelessly on rural roads that had been greatly affected by heavy rain.
Police Sergeant Rob Mazingham from the Serious Collisions Unit, who led the investigation, said: “This was a truly tragic incident that left a little boy orphaned and devastated families who continue to grieve and attempt to navigate a life without their loved ones.
“This has been an extremely complex, and lengthy investigation, and I would like to thank the families of the deceased for their patience, and strength throughout the entire process.
“Every fatal collision we attend is a tragedy that didn’t need to happen. Behind every incident is a person, whether that be someone’s parent, partner, child, sibling, or best friend, and in almost every case it could have been prevented.
“When someone is killed or seriously injured in a collision, the devastation doesn’t end at the scene. The driver responsible has to live with the consequences for the rest of their life, and I am pleased to see that Barnard-Wigley is being held accountable for her crimes and will be sentenced in January.”