A driver has admitted responsibility for causing the death of a little boy’s parents and seriously injuring him in a “truly tragic” crash in East Yorkshire four years ago.
Laila Barnard-Wigley was at the wheel of a black Mercedes GLA when it crashed into the family’s red Peugeot 2008 near Bridlington on May 7, 2021.
The driver, the boy’s 29-year-old father, and the front seat passenger, his 28-year-old mother, were fatally injured and both were declared dead at the scene.
The boy, then two years old, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but survived.
In 2023 Barnard-Wigley stood trial accused of causing the parents’ death by careless driving, but the jury could not decide on their verdicts and were discharged.
Now, two years later, the 27-year-old from Thoresby Avenue, Bridlington, has returned to Hull Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by careless driving.
Sergeant Rob Mazingham of Humberside Police’s serious collisions unit, 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.”
A police spokesman said Barnard-Wigley was driving carelessly on rural roads that had been greatly affected by heavy rain along her route. The crash happened the A165 at the junction of Grindale Road in Bridlington at around 3.30pm.
Sgt Mazingham said: “We continue to encourage members of the public to report any road traffic offences and dangerous driving to us by calling our non-emergency number 101 or 999 in an emergency, when safe to do so, to help hold reckless and dangerous drivers to account for their actions.
“You can also submit video evidence of driving offences that you or other members of the public have witnessed via our online reporting tool Op Snap.
“Our message is simple: drive safe, every time.”
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