A woman who caused a fatal accident resulting in the deaths of two individuals while rushing to a beauty salon before its closing time has avoided imprisonment.
Laila Barnard-Wigley was behind the wheel of her Mercedes when she triggered a head-on collision, as outlined during the proceedings at Hull Crown Court. The court heard that Barnard-Wigley was driving at a speed unsuitable for the weather conditions due to heavy rainfall, which had left the roads slippery, possibly causing her car to hydroplane into an oncoming vehicle with catastrophic outcomes.
The 27-year-old confessed to the charges of causing the fatalities of Dean Yarrow, 33, and Faye Wardle, 32, due to negligent driving on May 7, 2021. Following a previous mistrial in December 2023, she opted to change her plea to guilty.
According to Michael Greenhalgh, the accident occurred around 3:30 pm on the A165 near the Grindale crossroads in Bridlington when Barnard-Wigley’s black Mercedes Benz collided with a red Peugeot 208 being driven by Mr. Yarrow. The prosecution alleged that Barnard-Wigley was driving at an inappropriate speed given the adverse weather conditions.
Greenhalgh stated that Barnard-Wigley was in a rush to reach a beauty salon in Bridlington before its 3:30 pm closure to attempt to sell beauty products. Earlier that day, she had been in contact with a friend who worked at the salon. The prosecutor mentioned that she was overtaking vehicles aggressively to navigate through traffic swiftly before the tragic incident occurred.
The collision took place after Barnard-Wigley’s car drifted across the road and collided head-on with the other vehicle. It was speculated that she lost control after encountering a pool of standing water. Sustaining severe injuries, she was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.
In a statement, Mr. Yarrow’s mother expressed the immense pain and grief she has endured since the loss of her son and his girlfriend. She described her world as shattered, struggling to cope with the overwhelming sorrow. The bereaved family members shared their sentiments, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy on their lives.
During the sentencing, Richard Dawson, representing Barnard-Wigley, acknowledged the tragedy of the case and extended condolences to the affected families and friends. He emphasized that Barnard-Wigley lacked awareness of the risks associated with driving in wet conditions, leading to the fatal accident. Recognizing her error, she admitted to driving carelessly and expressed remorse for the distress caused to the victims’ loved ones.
Despite her clean driving history and lack of prior convictions, Barnard-Wigley received a 21-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work, and a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am for six months. Additionally, she was banned from driving for five years and required to pass an extended driving test before regaining her driving privileges.