New Driver Jailed After Fatal High-Speed Crash Claims Two Lives
A 21-year-old woman has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for causing a fatal car crash that killed two people just weeks after she passed her driving test. Liberty Mitchell, from Chipping Norton, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following the collision on the B4425 near Aldsworth, Gloucestershire in December 2022.
Details of the Tragic Collision
The court heard that Mitchell was driving at 96mph in a 60mph zone when she attempted to overtake three vehicles simultaneously. After trying to abort the dangerous manoeuvre, she collided with a taxi carrying driver Octavian Codreanu and passenger Moyra Whelan, a 35-year-old school teacher who was traveling to a wedding. Both victims died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at approximately 12.45pm on December 2, 2022.
Gloucestershire Police confirmed the collision involved four vehicles: a grey Mini Cooper driven by Mitchell, a black Audi A3, a grey Polestar 2, and a black Seat Leon. Mitchell had held her full driving licence for less than three weeks at the time of the incident and was self-employed as a cleaner, traveling between holiday cottages for work purposes.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Rupert Lowe described Mitchell as "a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the, frankly common, teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished." The judge emphasized that "the lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed" by her actions.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to all charges against her, which included two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and two counts of causing death while driving uninsured. Her insurance policy did not cover use of the vehicle for work purposes, adding further legal complications to the case.
Victim Impact and Injuries
The collision resulted in severe injuries to three other individuals, including a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds, and shattered bones protruding through skin. Nicola Cooper, a passenger in the taxi, described the trauma of the event: "The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless. I live with survivor's guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me."
Katy-Louise Whelan, sister of victim Moyra Whelan, expressed her family's devastation: "She had so much left that she wanted to experience... but the opportunity was stolen from her. I'm truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that."
Defence and Investigation
Defence lawyer Simon Stirling argued that Mitchell's actions resulted from "inexperience rather than irresponsibility," noting she had only recently passed her driving test and may not have fully understood the risks of her manoeuvre. However, Sergeant Williams of the Serious Collision Investigation Team stated: "Her actions tragically killed taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, as well as seriously injuring three others."
The sergeant added that December 2, 2022 "is a day that will be ingrained in not only the minds of the families who lost a loved one, but also the numerous victims who have suffered horrendous injuries and who are still recovering today." Mitchell must serve half of her six-year, eight-month sentence in custody before becoming eligible for release on licence.
