A young woman involved in a tragic collision that claimed the lives of a couple while she rushed to sell beauty products has received a suspended sentence and a driving ban instead of jail time. Laila Barnard-Wigley, 27, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, caused a fatal crash on May 7, 2021, due to excessive speed in wet conditions following heavy rain, resulting in the deaths of Dean Yarrow, 33, and Faye Wardle, 32.
Despite initially facing accusations of dangerous driving, Barnard-Wigley eventually pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of the Scarborough couple by careless driving. The court heard that the fatal accident occurred on the A165 in Bridlington when Barnard-Wigley’s car collided with another vehicle, driven by Mr. Yarrow, a red Peugeot 208, leading to a head-on collision.
Barnard-Wigley narrowly escaped a retrial by changing her plea to guilty after a jury failed to reach a verdict in December 2023. The court heard that she was in a rush to reach a beauty salon in Bridlington before closing time to sell beauty products, as indicated by messages exchanged with a friend working at the salon.
Prosecutors highlighted that Barnard-Wigley was overtaking vehicles to navigate through traffic swiftly, disregarding the hazardous road conditions caused by earlier heavy rain. The collision occurred as her car veered into an oncoming vehicle after losing control on a wet road surface.
Expressing deep remorse, Barnard-Wigley’s defense emphasized the tragic consequences of the incident, attributing it to a momentary error in judgment due to inadequate awareness of the risks associated with aquaplaning in wet conditions. Despite her clean driving record and genuine remorse, Barnard-Wigley received a suspended prison sentence, community service, a curfew, and a driving ban as part of her punishment.
The sentencing, while acknowledging the irreversible loss suffered by the victims’ families, also highlighted Barnard-Wigley’s lack of previous convictions and her genuine remorse, coupled with her positive work record and self-employment. As part of her sentence, she must complete community service, adhere to a curfew, and pass a retest before being allowed to drive again legally.