A woman who caused a fatal head-on collision while rushing to reach a beauty salon before it closed has been given a suspended prison sentence.
A Tragic Collision in Poor Weather
Laila Barnard-Wigley, 27, was driving her black Mercedes Benz on the A165 near Grindale crossroads, Bridlington, on May 7, 2021. The court heard that after 'biblical' heavy rain, she was driving too fast for the wet conditions. Prosecutors stated she was overtaking to make rapid progress, aiming to get to a Bridlington beauty salon before its 3:30 pm closing time to sell products.
Just before 3:30 pm, her car is believed to have aquaplaned on standing water. It veered across the road into the path of a red Peugeot 208 driven northbound by Dean Yarrow, 33. His girlfriend, Faye Wardle, 32, was in the front passenger seat, and a young boy was secured in a child seat in the rear.
Catastrophic Consequences and Court Proceedings
The collision had 'catastrophic' consequences, claiming the lives of Mr Yarrow and Miss Wardle. Barnard-Wigley suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised. She initially faced trial in December 2023, but a jury could not reach verdicts. She later changed her plea to guilty for causing death by careless driving.
In emotional victim impact statements, Dean Yarrow's mother said her world was destroyed and she was 'broken beyond repair'. Faye Wardle's father described the 'deafening' silence in his home, while her sister said a part of her identity had been taken.
Suspended Sentence and Driving Ban
Mitigating, defence barrister Richard Dawson said Barnard-Wigley did not appreciate the risks of aquaplaning and described the incident as 'an entirely out of character event'. She had no previous convictions and a good driving record.
At Hull Crown Court, she was given a 21-month suspended prison sentence, must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and abide by a six-month curfew from 9 pm to 6 am. She was banned from driving for five years and must pass an extended retest before driving legally again.
